A helping hand for banking industry pensioners

Irrespective of a pensioner’s age, the Bank Pensioners Society / Financial Institutions Society (BPS-FIPS) of the East Rand still aims to provide financial assistance.

Mike Hendricks, chairperson of the BPS East Rand branch, said FIPS came into being in 1969 through the initiative of pensioners from First National Bank and Standard Bank.

“The Financial Institutions Pensioners Society (BPS) assists pensioners from the financial sector to keep in touch with colleagues and friends and where possible to provide financial assistance to those in need,” he explained.

ALSO READ:

Apricot Tree to celebrate 10 years with a big bash

Hendricks said the BPS has a robust constitution to manage the organisation, which has the following core objectives:

• To collate information on the needs of pensioners from the financial sector and to provide a channel for their views.

• To keep in touch with older pensioners and annuitants and in this way bring to light cases of particular hardship and to assist generally in whatever way it can, to make their lot easier.

• To assist member pensioners who may find themselves in financial difficulties and require short-term financial assistance.

• To join with other pensioner organisations in speaking up for the interests of this section of the community.

• To promote social functions and friendly gatherings at which they can meet, swap ideas and socialise with old friends and colleagues.

• To identify special offers tailored to pensioner needs and promote these to its members. These include competitive short-term insurances, holiday packages and the like.

• To support BPS members running their own businesses in local areas.

“The main objective has been and still is to look after the interests of our members and provide support to those in need,” he said.

For more information, contact Eunice Horn on 082 468 7285 or visit www.bps-fips.co.za.