ACCESS Financial Services Limited (AFS) has been named a Jamaica Stock Exchange (JSE) long service awards recipient as the microlender marks 15 years on the Junior Market.

Managing director of the JSE Dr Marlene Street Forrest has hailed the company as a trailblazer on the exchange and in the microfinance sector.

“Congratulations to the Access team. We commend you on your hard work and commitment to the capital market and wish for you and your company further success as you look to celebrate more years of growth and longevity.

“Access has always been a pioneer. You were the first to list on the Junior Market. You hold a special place in our history. At the time, we decided to take a chance on you just as you were taking a chance on us,” Dr Street Forrest told AFS Chairman Michael Shaw as he and Chief Executive Officer Hugh Campbell paid a courtesy call on the JSE on Monday.

AFS became the first company to be listed on the Junior Market on October 30, 2009, nine years after the business was first established.

As the microfinance leader gets ready to celebrate its 25th anniversary in 2025, Campbell says the team is grateful for the recognition and motivated to keep growing for the benefit of its shareholders and the micro, small and medium-sized enterprises (MSMEs) who depend on them.

“We have the privilege of standing in the gap for thousands of Jamaicans, especially those who operate small businesses, who remain largely underserved by traditional lenders. MSMEs are the backbone of this economy and so we see it as vital to provide support for them so that they too can thrive. We thank the JSE for recognising the work that we have been putting in. At the end of the day, this is all about our customers, our employees and shareholders without whom this business would not exist,” said Campbell.

Noting that the company had successfully hurdled many obstacles, Shaw, the newly minted chairman, said the Access story was nothing short of remarkable.

“For the last 15 years, Access has been on a steady growth path, delivering value to shareholders, even in the toughest times. Take the COVID-19 pandemic, for example, the way in which we managed that crisis is noteworthy. It speaks to the strength of the relationship we have built with our customers. It’s very hard to walk away from a good relationship, and we look forward to continued growth as we serve them.”

ASF became the first microfinance entity to receive a licence to operate from the Bank of Jamaica when the new regulatory framework became effective in July 2022.

With the launch of its mobile application MyAccess in March last year, the company became the first microlender to offer its customers full online access to monitor and manage their accounts.

“We remain on the cutting edge in terms of the use of technology. The team is constantly innovating and finding new ways to drive operational efficiency which benefits the customer and increases profitability. We have steadily built a strong foundation in the last 25 years, and we have so much more to do as we solidify the legacy of this great company,” declared Campbell.

With an asset base of $7.14 billion, AFS is the leading provider of personal and business loans in the microfinance sector.

Established in 2000 and headquartered in Kingston, the company has 17 branches across the island and manages Embassy Loans in Florida, United States.