Durrant Pate/Contributor 

Access Financial Services (AFS) is offering 300 micro-, small- and medium-sized enterprises (MSMEs) interest-free loans or discounts on interest payments.

The announcement comes as part of AFS’s 25th anniversary celebrations, in which it is expressing gratitude in tangible ways by offering benefits to the MSME sector. 

Throughout its milestone celebration this year, AFS says plans for its business customers include a ‘Thank You Road Tour’ where the microlender will take gifts to its longest-standing clients across the island and a promotion where 300 customers will get either discounts on interest or get their loans completely interest-free.

In addition to the road tour, AFS chief executive Hugh Campbell disclosed that five customers, who have been with the company the longest, will be invited to its 25th anniversary gala and awards ceremony in September for special recognition. 

‘Lucky Loans’ promotion 

According to him, “Our celebrations would not be complete without them. We intend to show them in a meaningful way that they are part of the AFS family. Another major way in which we’re doing that is through our ‘Lucky Loans’ promotion, in which 50 customers will get their loans interest-free, and another 250 customers will get a 25 per cent discount on interest.”

The ‘Lucky Loans’ promotion, which will run through to September 30, is open to existing and new AFS customers who qualify for personal and business loans between J$250,000 and J$1 million.

Draws will take place at the end of July and August, with the final one set for early October to select 150 personal loan customers and 150 business loan customers for whom AFS will cover all or part of their interest payments.

Both initiatives follow closely on the heels of the company’s ‘Access Hope’ corporate social responsibility initiative, through which J$6.25 million was disbursed to support education, community and business development programmes. 

CSR programme 

Launched in May, Access Hope saw 25 community projects and programmes each receiving J$250,000, with nine state-run children’s homes among the beneficiaries. Money was also allocated for business development training through the Jamaica Business Development Corporation (JBDC). 

“We know our customers will appreciate this because over the years, it’s something they have told us. So, for this promotional period, we’re giving them something that will put money back into their pockets. It’s our way of saying ‘Thank You’, it’s our way of showing appreciation for our customers who have stuck by us over these many years; and for our new customers, it’s our way of saying ‘Welcome to the Access Family’,” Campbell declared. 

AFS has been a leader in Jamaica’s microfinance sector for 25 years, providing financial solutions that empower individuals and small businesses. Established in 2000 and listed on the junior market of the Jamaica Stock Exchange since 2009, AFS operates through an extensive network of 17 branches island-wide, offering same-day-approved personal and business loans.