About St. James Bank & Trust
A Specialist Bank since 1999
Twenty-seven years of financing, custody and administration for investors in private markets, under senior management that has been in place for two decades — and now also financing against listed equities.
Our History
1999
Incorporated in The Bahamas as The St. James Trust Company, a restricted bank and trust company, owned by Financière Worms & Cie of Geneva, part of the Paris-based Worms & Cie group, founded in 1848.
2004
Applies to the Central Bank of The Bahamas to upgrade to an unrestricted bank and trust license, and changes its name to The St. James Bank & Trust Company Ltd.
2005
Ownership transferred within the group to The Permal Group, Worms & Cie’s alternative investment manager. Legg Mason acquires 80% of Permal. SJBT provides lending, custody and administration to clients of the Permal group.
2016
Permal combines with EnTrust Capital to form EnTrustPermal, a global alternative asset manager with $26 billion under management.
2017
EnTrustPermal decides to divest SJBT. St. James Partners agrees to acquire the bank.
2018
The Central Bank of The Bahamas approves the acquisition. SJBT becomes independently owned, with a business plan focused solely on fund finance.
2019 – Present
Financing, custody and administration for investors, borrowers and lenders in hedge funds, private equity funds, private companies and other alternative assets. Expanding capability set in equity financing for public market securities.
1999
Incorporated in The Bahamas as The St. James Trust Company, a restricted bank and trust company, owned by Financière Worms & Cie of Geneva, part of the Paris-based Worms & Cie group, founded in 1848.
2004
Applies to the Central Bank of The Bahamas to upgrade to an unrestricted bank and trust license, and changes its name to The St. James Bank & Trust Company Ltd.
2005
Ownership transferred within the group to The Permal Group, Worms & Cie’s alternative investment manager. Legg Mason acquires 80% of Permal. SJBT provides lending, custody and administration to clients of the Permal group.
2016
Permal combines with EnTrust Capital to form EnTrustPermal, a global alternative asset manager with $26 billion under management.
2017
EnTrustPermal decides to divest SJBT. St. James Partners agrees to acquire the bank.
2018
The Central Bank of The Bahamas approves the acquisition. SJBT becomes independently owned, with a business plan focused solely on fund finance.
2019 - Present
Financing, custody and administration for investors, borrowers and lenders in hedge funds, private equity funds, private companies and other alternative assets. Expanding capability set in equity financing for public market securities.
SENIOR MANAGEMENT
Bernard Kemp
President
Bernard Kemp is a Chartered Accountant with more than 20 years of experience in the financial services sector. Mr. Kemp currently serves as the President of St. James Bank & Trust Company Ltd. (“SJBT”), where he has been employed since 2005. During his tenure at SJBT, Mr. Kemp has held the positions of Financial Controller and Vice-President, Finance and has contributed to a number of areas with the larger operational and accounting management functions as well as information technology support and implementation. Prior to his time with SJBT, Mr. Kemp was previously employed with Private Investment Bank Limited as Financial Controller, and Ernst & Young, providing accounting, auditing and assurance services to a wide variety of clients including banks and investment firms.
Dion Thompson
Vice President and
Secretary
Dion Thompson currently serves as Vice President and Secretary of SJBT, where he has been employed since 2003. During his tenure at SJBT, Mr. Thompson has also served as Assistant Financial Controller, MLRO and Fund Accountant. Prior to joining SJBT, Mr. Thompson served as a member of the operations and accounting staff at Deltec Banking Corporation Ltd. and a junior member of the Treasury Department at Citibank N. A. Mr. Thompson holds a Bachelor of Arts Degree in Economics from the University of Western Ontario.
Anastacia Brooks
Our Team
Bernard Young
Compliance Officer
30+ Years of Experience
Law Enforcement, Regulatory (FIU) and Private Banking Compliance
Kelsi Williams
Associate
36+ Years of Experience
Banking operations, client accounting, mutual fund accounting and administration
Shanressa Smith
Analyst
12+ Years of Experience
Banking operations and administration
Joash Boyd
Assistant Financial Controller
Audit experience with banking industry focus, risk assessment, internal control operations, and financial statement review