Wash Day Laundromat
Cyprian John says his story as a businessman is evidence of how important the credit union movement has become to the country's growing business class.

His loan from BS&T Employees' Co-operative Credit Union in 1994 allowed him to launch the now highly successful Wash Day Laundromat, located at Stanmore Crescent, Black Rock, St. Michael.

The former Seawell Air Services employee has been a member of the BS&T Employees' Cooperative Credit Union for over a decade and the relationship has been a rewarding one for this businessman.

While conceding that BS&T Employees' Credit Union "took a chance" on him when it loaned him the money to start his Laundromat, Cyprian was positive that he had vindicated the confidence which the credit union placed in him.

The relationship between Cyprian and the Credit Union goes way back as he has received two car loans and proudly declared that both loans were repaid ahead of time.

"Had it not been for the Credit Union I don't think I would have got the start I had and I definitely would not have got it from the [commercial] bank."

"I have never dealt with a bank but from talking to people and hearing what kind of relationship they had with the bank, I don't think I would want to deal with them",the 46-year-old Barbados National Terminal Company Limited employee said.

Today, while still maintaining his job with BNTCL, Cyprian also provides employment for four others through his Laundromat. Since his initial loan in 1994, Cyprian has also benefited from an additional loan to expand the Black Rock operation.