Wed | Oct 8, 2025

Former bank executive Norman Reid has died

Published:Tuesday | October 7, 2025 | 4:57 PMLester Hinds/Gleaner Writer -
Norman Reid
Norman Reid

Former National Commercial Bank (NCB) executive, Norman Reid, described as a true family man, has died at the age of 70 years old.

Reid died at home this morning.

He was a career banker and noted public servant and his passing followed a long battle with illness.

Reid, who joined NCB through the bank’s management trainee programme, rose through the ranks to retire as a senior executive with NCB.

His son, Ryan Reid, the president and co-founder of the First Rock Group, described his father as a true family man.

“He was very supportive of his family. He was a no-nonsense person and someone who believed in rewarding excellence,” the younger Reid told The Gleaner.

He said his father loved badminton as well as swimming.

The elder Reid's daughter, Rochelle Reid-James, recalled her fondest memory as being able to have long conversations with her father.

“He was very easy to talk with. We would have long conversations while he was taking me back to boarding school. He also exhibited that same listening trait with everyone, including his grandchildren,” she said.

“We could laugh about anything."

Born in Clarendon, he attended Woodhall Elementary School before going on to Clarendon College, graduating from that institution from sixth form as head boy. He went to the College of Arts Science and Technology (CAST), now the University of Technology, where he earned a diploma in banking.

It was during his time at CAST that he applied for and was accepted into NCB’s trainee management programme.

The late banker earned his bachelor of arts degree in banking and finance from Sheffield Hallam University in the United Kingdom.

Reid became manager of NCB at just 30 years old and continued moving up the ranks at Jamaica’s largest bank.

Described as a man who was good at governance, Reid sat on a number of boards, including as chairman of the board of the National Export-Import Bank of Jamaica (EXIM Bank). He was also chairman of First Rock real estate company and sat on the board of the Western Regional Health Authority.

He was also chairman of the board of Sam Sharpe Teachers’ College and a member of the board of the Housing Agency of Jamaica as well as Clarendon Aluminium Production and the Port Security Corporation of Jamaica.

A justice of the peace for St James, Reid was a past master of the Lodge Caledonia.

Along with his two children, he has a number of grandchildren, nieces, nephews and other relatives.

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