VM Group takes financial services message to Jamaicans in Maryland

More than 250 Jamaicans gathered in Silver Spring, Maryland, on Saturday for an engagement with the VM Group, as the Jamaican financial institution stepped up efforts to strengthen its relationship with the diaspora and encourage greater investment in Jamaica.

The event, dubbed “Yaad & Beyond” Financial Link Up, was held at the DoubleTree Hotel and provided an opportunity for members of the Jamaican community in the Washington, D.C., Maryland and Virginia (DMV) area to learn more about financial services available to them, including mortgages, savings, investments, property services and opportunities to build wealth back home.

Addressing the gathering, Courtney Campbell, group president and chief executive officer of VM Group, underscored the organization's longstanding commitment to serving Jamaicans at home and overseas, noting that the institution has developed considerable experience in meeting the financial needs of nonresident Jamaicans.

Established on November 14, 1878, as the Victoria Mutual Building Society, the organization was founded by a group of clergymen from different religious denominations, led by the Rev. Downer. Its original mission was to help members achieve financial well-being, a principle Campbell said continues to guide the organization's operations.

He explained that VM Group has evolved into a diversified financial services organization, offering a range of products and services designed to help Jamaicans achieve their financial ambitions, regardless of where they reside.

These include savings and deposit accounts in Jamaican and foreign currencies, residential and commercial mortgages, personal and auto loans, credit cards, construction financing, investment products, pensions, money transfers and insurance services.

Campbell placed particular emphasis on the importance of financial education, describing it as an essential starting point for financial empowerment.

He said VM Group delivers financial education through various channels, including community engagements, churches, schools, service clubs, workplaces, webinars and online platforms. The initiative extends beyond Jamaica to overseas communities in the United States and the United Kingdom, with the organization also reaching Jamaicans in Canada.

He encouraged members of the diaspora to take advantage of the institution's services when considering purchasing property, investing or undertaking other financial ventures in Jamaica.

Campbell also highlighted the group's property services, which include assistance with buying and selling real estate, property valuations, property management and project management.

He noted that the organization has established an international presence, with overseas offices and operations designed to make it easier for Jamaicans living abroad to access financial services and conduct business in their homeland.

Turning to investment opportunities in Jamaica, Campbell encouraged diaspora members to look beyond traditional investments and consider sectors with significant potential for economic growth.

He identified agro-processing as an area deserving greater attention, arguing that Jamaica could generate greater economic returns by moving beyond the export of primary agricultural commodities and investing in processing and value-added production.

He pointed to the distinctive quality of Jamaican agricultural products, including coffee and ginger, noting that the country's soil, climate and geographical conditions give many of its products a competitive advantage in international markets.

Campbell also identified housing and construction as important areas for investment, particularly given the demand for affordable housing and the need for innovative construction solutions.

He urged Jamaicans overseas with expertise, technology and financial resources to explore opportunities that could contribute to Jamaica's development while generating commercial returns.

Meanwhile, Monalee Gibbs, minister counsellor at the Embassy of Jamaica in Washington, D.C., who leads the embassy's trade and investment desk, welcomed the VM Group's continued engagement with the diaspora.

She described Jamaicans overseas as important partners in the country's economic development, highlighting their potential as investors, entrepreneurs, professionals and business connectors.

Gibbs said Jamaica continues to present a compelling investment case, supported by its economic fundamentals, strategic location, skilled workforce and access to international markets.

Addressing the country's economic resilience following Hurricane Melissa, Gibbs noted that Jamaica's disaster financing arrangements had helped support recovery efforts and that the three major international credit rating agencies had reaffirmed the country's standing.

She also pointed to improvements in public safety, citing reductions in murders, shootings and robberies between January 1 and October 24, 2026, compared with the corresponding period in 2025.

According to Gibbs, murders declined by 23%, shootings by 26% and robberies by 31%, while overall reported serious crimes fell by 21%.

She said these developments were important considerations for families, visitors and investors assessing Jamaica's business environment.

Gibbs identified opportunities in tourism, global services, agro-processing, manufacturing, film and mining, while highlighting reconstruction following Hurricane Melissa as an urgent investment priority.

Among the areas requiring investment, she listed resilient housing, renewable energy, reliable water systems, digital connectivity and improved transportation infrastructure.

She encouraged members of the diaspora to bring their investment interests, professional expertise and proposed solutions to the embassy, which stands ready to connect prospective investors with JAMPRO, VM Group and other relevant Jamaican agencies and institutions.

Gibbs also encouraged Jamaicans in the DMV area to participate in upcoming trade and investment initiatives designed to connect Jamaican businesses with international buyers.

She highlighted the Winternational showcase, scheduled for December 8 at the Ronald Reagan Building in Washington, D.C., where Jamaican brands will display their products, and Expo 2027 Jamaica, scheduled for April 15-18, 2027.

She said Expo 2027 Jamaica would provide opportunities for importers, distributors, entrepreneurs and investors to participate in business meetings, product sampling, factory tours, site visits and networking with Jamaican business and industry leaders.

Gibbs urged the gathering to view investment in Jamaica not simply as a financial transaction but as an opportunity to contribute to national development, create employment and strengthen economic ties between Jamaica and its diaspora.

The program featured a panel of VM Group executives and specialists, including Campbell; Leighton Smith, group chief diaspora markets officer; Michael Howard, chief executive officer of VM Property Services; Dr. Karrian Hepburn Malcolm, vice president of wealth distribution and revenue strategy at VM Wealth Management; and Kaysia Vaughan, group chief customer and brand officer.

The financial link-up reflected the continuing importance of partnerships between Jamaican institutions and overseas communities in mobilizing diaspora resources, strengthening economic connections and creating opportunities for Jamaicans to remain financially connected to home.