Vina Chauhan’s late father encouraged her to fill out an application form to work at Westpac in 1974 when the bank was then known as Bank of New South Wales, and 50 years later, she is now celebrating a successful career with Westpac.
Chauhan says the banking industry in Fiji has seen many changes in the last decade – most significantly, the move towards electronic banking channels, and it is certainly a very different environment from her early days in 1974.
She has held many roles within the bank over the years and shared her experience as Head of Regional Operations and Business Support, at Pacific Islands.
She recalls that those days came with many challenges as she managed all back office operations, excluding International Operations, for Westpac Fiji, Samoa, Tonga, Vanuatu, Solomon Islands, Cook Islands, and a few functions from PNG.
When asked why she had continued working at Westpac for 50 years, Chauhan says she is very passionate about the work she does and being part of the bank’s growth in Fiji – from manual processing to the computer world, from electronic channels to new digital platforms, is a thrilling journey.
She says there were so many challenges faced during implementation, but knowing that she was part of that team means a lot to her.
Chauhan reiterates that their customers are key to what they do and that without them, they would not have a job she is proud to be part of an organisation that values its customers as they do, and that is why she chose to remain a loyal employee for the past 50 years.
Westpac Fiji Chief Executive Shane Smith says it is truly an honor for them all to celebrate this enormous milestone in Chauhan’s career.
Smith says she joins a handful of employees who have also spent over 50 years with Westpac, and they acknowledge hard work and dedication.
He says they value and appreciate the wealth of knowledge she has cultivated over the years and her shared learning's with the wider workforce.
Smith adds that over the past five decades, Chauhan has witnessed the business undergo significant changes and is now a mentor and friend to many of her colleagues.
