January 21, 2003
By Jonews Reporter
FIRST NATIONAL BANK (FNB) is pumping R28 million into the heart of Johannesburg's CBD for the creation of a parking garage that will serve the bank's 6000 staffers at its Bank City complex.
The parkade, which will be situated on the corner of Pritchard and Sauer Streets, is set for completion by December this year. Its 800 bays will be located in eight levels above ground and four underground levels.
Spokesperson William Ramwell said the bank was confident in the city centre as a substantial amount of its business volumes took place there. "We are committed to the city centre and have invested in it for a long time. We are also enthusiastic supporters of Business Against Crime and have linked up 14 of our branches with its high-resolution cameras."
The casualty for the garage is the now vacant FNB Card House, which was constructed in the 1970s. It is being demolished. Ramwell said the former card division had poor cable management and had stood empty for the past two years.
"More and more of our staffers are driving into the city. There is a need to retain our staff and to provide good parking and safety and security for them," he said.
