The occasion of a new year is the perfect time to reflect and set intentions for the year to come. Some call them New Year’s Resolutions; others simply declare “2026 is going to be my year!”
But if you have ever found yourself wondering why the goals you want to achieve never seem to become a reality or why it is so hard to remain consistent after the first few weeks, you are not alone. It’s not because your goals are unattainable, but rather, they require a strategic approach and, sometimes, a little support. Here at Co-op Bank, we want to come along with you on your journey to accomplishing all your goals, whether they are financial, travel, academic or in pursuit of a healthier lifestyle.
So, let’s talk about goals.
In its simplest form, goals are what we want to achieve in our lives in a variety of areas, such as finances, career, relationships, education, health and lifestyle. These goals help you to create a long-term vision of how you want to see your life improve. Is it necessary to set goals? No, but research has shown that setting goals, and seeing them through, helps people accomplish incredible things. If you have been feeling stuck or unmotivated about certain circumstances in your life, keep reading.
In 2026, we are aiming for efficiency when it comes to creating and tracking goals. And, just to be clear, whether you are thinking about your goals in January, February or June, it’s not too late. So, let’s get started by setting some smart goals.
S.M.A.R.T Goals
Setting successful goals requires more than writing a list in a journal or on your Notes app. You also need a plan of action. This is where the concept of setting S.M.A.R.T goals comes in. And, no, S.M.A.R.T goals are not just for business operations; they can be applied to your personal life as well.
S.M.A.R.T goals are goals that are:
Specific, because vague goals are harder to commit to.
Measurable, because we need a way to track our progress.
Achievable, based on our circumstances and resources.
Relevant, because they need to fit in with our vision for the future.
Time bound, with a timeline and due date to keep us accountable.
Take a look at this example:
“Save money”
You have probably written this down before. But “save money” is vague and open-ended. How much do you want to save? What are you saving for? Do you have a timeline?
Let’s try this instead:
“Save $5,000 for emergency savings fund by the end of the year”
This goal is specific; we know how much and for what purpose and there is a timeline. The next step is to establish how you will save $5,000, which requires a review of your current financial situation. If a fixed monthly deduction is manageable based on your income and expenses, then consider setting up a scheduled payment on eBanking to your designated Co-op Bank savings account. Are you an impulsive spender? Now is a good time to get it under control.
Here’s another example:
If one of your goals is to live a healthier lifestyle this year, start your goal planning by identifying what a healthier lifestyle looks like for you, whether that is going to the gym three times a week, eating more fresh fruits and vegetables, walking 10,000 steps a day, or having a regular self-care day.
Tracking Your Goals
Once you have established the goal and outlined the plan of action to achieve it, then you can start tracking your progress. You can do this in a journal, using an app (there’s an app for everything!), or with an accountability partner. Schedule regular goal check-ins and give yourself a progress report. This will help you determine if any changes are necessary. Maybe you encountered an unexpected expense or an injury, so you will need to adjust the approach.
Another great way to help you stay on track is to record the milestones you pass along the way. If, as part of your healthier lifestyle goal, you have been walking every day, then one of your milestones can be to participate in the Pump it Up Family Fun Walk. If you’re already a Pump it Up regular, you can work towards completing the challenge route or finishing in a faster time.Whether you saved your first $400 or lost 12 pounds, celebrate all the small wins and remember your friends at Co-op Bank are cheering you on all the way!
St. George’s, Grenada – February 12th, 2026 – Grenada Co-operative Bank Limited, as the proud title sponsor of the Fundaytion 2026, congratulates this year’s participants for an impressive showcase of talent and courage. The initiative culminated with a music competition on Sunday 8th February at the Hillsborough Botanical Gardens, which featured ten young stars, ages 10 – 15, who shined brightly on the big stage. Chelsie “Chelo” Patrice successfully defended her title with her performance of “Follow the Train”. Zavion “Thymless” Rennie captured the second position with “End up in the Jab” and Jade “Muffphy” Joseph secured the third position with “Change of Clothes”.
Fundaytion, which was first staged in 2023, supports holistic development among youth. It provides an avenue for young artistes to build social connections, explore their musical talent and develop invaluable skills in creative expression. Through a series of structured sessions, participants take the lead, with guidance, in songwriting, recording and performance preparation, helping build their confidence, creativity, teamwork and stage presence. Additionally, to complement this creative journey, financial literacy workshops are included to impart responsible money management techniques, helping them manage their prize earnings, while building sound financial habits.
Commenting on the Bank’s involvement in this year’s Fundaytion competition, Mrs. Rachael Philip-Bethel, Sales & Services Manager of the Carriacou Retail Banking Unit, shared: “This event goes beyond just entertainment and competition for us at Co-op Bank. It has created a space where we can see our young people express themselves, strengthen their confidence, acquire skills and connect with various parts of our culture. Something worth investing in. Moreover, as the title sponsor, we are proud to partner with Palm Tree Vybez to support initiatives like these. Not only does it align with the pillars of our Corporate Social Responsibility relative to education, culture and the performing arts, but we believe that it creates opportunities to nurture youth talent and development which, in turn, positively impacts our communities in the long run.”
“As a local financial institution, through our work in the communities, we have identified the gaps in financial education, and we recognize our responsibility to start these conversations early, in helping our young people develop and maintain healthy financial habits,” explained Mrs. Philip-Bethel. “We are thrilled to deliver these financial literacy sessions as we endeavour to help our young people understand the value of saving, planning and making smart financial choices.”
Chelo, Thymless and Muffphy received monetary awards of $5,000.00, $3,000.00 and $1500.00, respectively, with the other seven participants each receiving $800.00, amounting to a total of $15,100.00 in prize sponsorship from Grenada Co-operative Bank Limited.
The Fundaytion 2026 songs are available for listening on Youtube, Apple Music, Spotify and Amazon Music.
St. George’s, December 1, 2025 – Grenada Co-operative Bank Limited, in partnership with Investment Migration Agency (IMA) Grenada, successfully staged the 2025 Investment Migration Round Table (IMRT) Conference on November 13th at the Radisson Crown Ballroom. The one-day conference, now in its sixth year, is an annual forum to develop and refine Grenada’s strategy and framework for positioning and strengthening investment migration as a thriving and sustainable sector of Grenada’s economy.
This year’s edition of the conference themed Adapt. Evolve. Sustain, explored how Grenada’s investment migration programme can succeed amidst increased regulations and external pressures. In his keynote address, H.E. Calvin St. Juste, Executive Chairman of the Board of Governors for St. Kitts and Nevis’ Citizenship by Investment (CBI) Unit, shared lessons that Grenada can learn from St. Kitts and Nevis, the birthplace of the modern CBI programme, to position investment migration as a catalyst for positive and powerful national development. The panel discussions looked at CBI as a foreign direct investment source of revenue for Grenada, leveraging the investment migration diaspora to support national development, and the key considerations for developing local investors in the investment migration industry.
The round table component of the conference provided delegates with the opportunity to provide direct feedback to enhance and improve Grenada’s investment migration programme. This year, delegates shared actionable suggestions related to channeling CBI revenue into national development, tapping into the CBI diaspora, addressing challenges experienced within the CBI programme, and attracting and supporting local Grenadian involvement in the CBI economy.
Mr. Willvorn Grainger, Chief Experience Officer at Grenada Co-operative Bank Limited, explained why the Bank continues to support the IMRT Conference. “We firmly believe that by bringing together key stakeholders through this forum, we can strengthen collaboration, exchange valuable insights, make informed recommendations and continue to shape a sector that delivers tangible and lasting benefits for Grenada,” he noted. “Witnessing the programme’s ongoing progress is a powerful reminder of how far our shared mission has come. What has emerged from the conversations is clear that we have a responsibility and the opportunity to redefine investment migration as a transformative tool for national resilience and sustainable development.”
Grenada Co-operative Bank Limited, as the nation’s only indigenous bank, continues to champion programmes that empower Grenada’s economy to thrive.
Grenada Co-operative Bank Limited, Grenada’s only indigenous commercial bank, proudly introduces Tap to Phone, the new digital payment service that lets even the smallest merchant tap into the potential of the cashless economy.
“In the same way that Co-op Bank is committed to contributing to the country’s economic growth, we are committed to supporting small businesses, the life blood of our country. Traditional point-of-sale systems like credit card machines have not been practical for many of our micro and small business customers. But in a growing cashless economy, not having the ability to accept card payments leads to missed sales,” explains Willvorn Grainger, Chief Experience Officer. “Now, we have a solution to ensure no sale opportunity is lost. With Tap to Phone, we are placing the power of payment in the pockets of our vendors, artisans, taxi drivers, agro-processors and more.”
Powered by VISA, the Tap to Phone app turns merchants’ smartphones into convenient and safe contactless point-of-sale devices with no additional hardware required and no annual fee. Tap to Phone accepts VISA or Mastercard transactions and customers can pay using their cards, digital wallets or smart watches by simply tapping the contactless icon to the merchant’s phone.
Grand Anse Craft and Spice Market vendor, Sharmain Ragbasingh, shared her feelings about the new solution: “I’ll be all excited to use the Tap to Phone because the business I’m in normally I lose customers, now I wouldn’t have that issue. You can pay quickly and safely with Tap to Phone.”
To accept digital payments with Tap to Phone, interested micro and small business merchants must first apply to Co-op Bank to sign up. Call us on (473) 440-2111 to speak to one of our officers and get on your way to accepting payments anytime, anywhere.
Hillsborough, Carriacou – October 22, 2025 – At a ceremony held on October 17, 2025, Grenada Co-operative Bank Limited officially handed over twenty-six (26) computers to the Carriacou Multi-Purpose Centre.
The donation of the computers – twenty (20) for use at the Carriacou Multi-Purpose Centre and six (6) for the Petite Martinique ICT Centre – aligns with the Bank’s commitment to supporting national development. “The honor is ours to support our fellow Grenadians along their life journeys, not just by providing financial solutions which also help with their advancement, but through cross-cutting actions in health, education, sports, culture and the performing arts,” explained Mrs. Rachael Phillip-Bethel, Manager of the Carriacou Retail Banking Unit.
“We believe in the holistic development of people, and as such, we invest in this development wholeheartedly.”
Mrs. Phillip-Bethel continued: “These are mere tools, which when used productively, can help to propel students and citizens Mrs. Rachael-Phillip Bethel, Manager, Carriacou Retail Banking Unit – Co-op Bank, with students at the Multi-Purpose Centre forward and out of their current situations. We hope these tools will help with research to open and strengthen minds; help with completing SBAs, projects or even participating in essay competitions. We hope that students and citizens will use it to be creative and use their talents for the benefit of themselves, their families and their country.”
Hon. Tevin Andrews, Minister for Carriacou and Petite Martinique Affairs and Local Government, expressed his gratitude to the Bank for their partnership and investment into the people of Carriacou and Petite Martinique. “Even though laptops and computers are easily accessible, and most people can get them easily on the market, you will be amazed at the number of people who still use the resource centre to do research, whether for school or business. So, it is very important,” Minister Andrews noted.
St. George’s, Grenada – October 16, 2025 – Grenada Co-operative Bank Limited, Grenada’s only indigenous commercial bank, proudly sponsored Your Financial Future 2.0, a one-day financial wellness summit on October 9, 2025. Organized by GoBlue Consulting, the summit provided participants with practical tools and expert advice to deliver a transformative, financially empowering experience.
As Your Financial Future 2.0’s Legacy Partner, Co-op Bank played a pivotal role in creating a space where Grenadians could take the first step towards securing their financial futures. Mr. Larry Lawrence, Co-op Bank’s Managing Director, delivered the opening keynote “The Wealth Within: Rewiring Your Money Mindset”. Mr. Lawrence discussed the psychology of financial behaviour and explored the mental and emotional processes that influence how people manage, spend, save and think about money.
Mrs. Jennifer Robertson, Executive Manager, Risk, facilitated a break-out session on understanding debt titled “Crush the Debt Cycle: A Practical Reset”. Dr. Aaron Logie, Executive Manager, Finance and Wealth Management and Financial Services, contributed to a panel discussion on smart financial strategies for today’s economy. Additionally, Ms. Tanya K. Lambert, Corporate Secretary and Executive Manager, Legal, contributed to a panel discussion on wills, trusts, and securing your legacy.
Co-op Bank also utilized the summit to directly engage with customers, both current and prospective, to share information about the Bank’s products and services, while also garnering feedback on customers’ financial needs.
“Contributing to the holistic development of our people and our country is part of our ethos as an institution,” explains Mrs. Ericka Hosten, Manager, Marketing & Customer Insight. “That is why education, including financial education and literacy, is a cornerstone of our community outreach. Our goal is to support initiatives that provide opportunities for our citizens to access practical information and tools to enhance their financial wellbeing.”
St. George’s, Grenada – October 9, 2025 – Grenada Co-operative Bank Limited was a proud sponsor of the 2025 Grenada Book Festival held on October 3rd and 4th. The festival, organized by Grenada Book Festival, Inc., brought together writers, authors, artisans and book lovers of all ages to celebrate Grenadian stories.
“Co-op Bank is committed to supporting initiatives that nurture creative expression,” explains Ericka Hosten, Manager Marketing & Customer Insight. “This book festival introduced a platform to showcase Grenadian books, while also encouraging reading and Cross section of attendees at the book reading segmentliteracy. The literary arts play an integral role in promoting and preserving our nation’s rich cultural heritage, and as Grenada’s only indigenous bank, we were proud to be a festival sponsor and contribute to the success of this important literary event.”
This year’s Grenada Book Festival featured two main events: a professional development workshop that brought together writers at various stages of their careers to learn about the traditional publishing industry and a book fair featuring more than thirty local authors and artisans. In addition to the author and artisan showcase, the book fair’s Children’s Corner was a popular attraction, providing a space for children to explore their creativity, and the reading area, with children’s story hours and poetry readings that captivated the audiences, both young and old.
Co-op Bank’s sponsorship of the 2025 Grenada Book Festival aligns with the Bank’s corporate social responsibility agenda to support projects and programmes that contribute to the nation’s holistic development.
With the last quarter of the year around the corner, it’s a good time to check in on the financial goals you set this year. How are you doing? Are you on track or do you need to make some adjustments? Even if you’ve never set a financial goal before, there’s nothing that says you can’t start now. Being proactive with your finances puts you in a better position to secure your future financial wellbeing.
Whether you are just beginning or need some motivation to keep going, here are a few simple, easy-to-implement strategies for managing your finances.
First, establish your starting point.
We know we say this all the time, but the best way to implement a plan is to know where you are starting from. Do a complete audit to assess your personal financial situation and spending habits. Make notes of your monthly income and expenses and track your daily spending; don’t leave anything out. Organize your expenses and spending in categories, such as rent or mortgage payments, loan repayments, utility bills, transportation, food and entertainment, so you can easily see where your money goes each month. Armed with this data about your spending habits, you can make informed decisions about the way forward.
Then, outline your financial goals
Keeping what you learned from the financial audit in mind, outline some general financial goals like increasing retirement savings, investing, starting an emergency fund or paying off credit card debt. The information from your audit will help you determine what changes need to be made to achieve these goals.
Finally, create a budget that’s tailored to you
Take some time to develop a budget that works for your financial situation. A simple budgeting approach is 50-30-20 rule, which categorizes your expenses based on needs, wants and savings and can be adjusted based on your short and long-term priorities. For example, since the holidays are quickly approaching, you may find it worthwhile to reduce spending in the “wants” category to put towards saving for the holidays. Speaking of holidays, check out these tips for a budget friendly holiday season.
If impulsive spending is keeping you from sticking to your budget, reflect on the factors that might be influencing this spending habit. Is it a coping mechanism to handle stressful situations? Or are you trying to impress people in your social circles? Explore ways to address these factors that won’t derail your finances. Another strategy is to try being more intentional with your purchases. Taking a moment to consider whether the purchase is a need or a want and how it aligns with your financial goals should help you limit unnecessary spending.
Co-op Bank has tools to help you manage your finances efficiently, from our eBanking solutions for seamless money transfers or accounts to help you meet your savings goals. Visit one of our branches soon to learn more.