The Tribune

A Bahamian financial provider, which previously unveiled the first artificial intelligence (AI) powered humanoid in financial services, is expanding to Freeport to create a northern regional hub.

Robert Pantry, the Simplified Group of Companies founder and chief executive, said in a statement that the move reflects the company’s belief in Grand Bahama’s future.

“We are very bullish on Grand Bahama, and believe that Grand Bahama’s best days lie ahead,” said Mr Pantry. “We want to be part of the new Grand Bahama and grow alongside the island that will stand apart for the diversity of its economy.

“We believe that Simplified Group’s diverse portfolio of products and services complements the broad spectrum of economic, academic and commercial resurgence in the second city.”

Alexis Schaffer, who has been with Simplified for more than six years, has been named head of Simplified North. The new location will provide services ranging from lending and insurance to vehicle sales and rentals plus humanoid robot sales and rentals.   

“Alexis combines strong leadership with an insatiable curiosity about innovation and technology; the driving force behind Simplified Group’s efforts to continually find ways to make it easier for the consumer to conduct their daily lives,” said Mr Pantry. “We believe she is the ideal candidate for this exciting next step in the Simplified Group of Companies.”

Ms Schaffer, who holds a master’s degree in international business from MIU City University Miami, and a bachelors degree in business administration from Midwestern State University, said: “I am honoured to have been selected to head the northern division and am excited to get started, helping clients experience a simpler way to borrow or benefit from any of the other services that we will provide, including AI services.

“We believe that as others see a brighter tomorrow for Grand Bahama, more Bahamian businesses will follow.” The companies that will operate from Freeport include Simplified Lending, Affinity Insurance, Auto Simplified, Rental Simplified (vehicle rentals), Simplified Tech and Simplified Real Estate Holdings.

The expansion to Grand Bahama follows Simplified’s opening of its Robinson Road branch earlier this year. The company also operates branches on Tonique Williams Highway and its head office, which remains on JFK Drive in the former RND Cinema Plaza.

Mr Pantry said Grand Bahama represents more than another branch. “With Alexis at the helm, the Grand Bahama location will serve as a base for regional expansion in services and AI-powered humanoid technology, and we expect great things to emerge from the tech division in particular,” he added.

Founded in 2019 with a mission to simplify and improve the lending process, Simplified Lending expanded in 2021 by acquiring Affinity Insurance and, since then, has added vehicle sales and rentals plus real estate, AI training services and Evie, its AI-powered humanoid. Trained to do the initial intake for loans, she was first developed under Ms Schaffer and, more recently, under Gerlia Nairn.

“Today, Evie is such a part of the Simplified family that when folks walk in in the morning, they say good morning to her,” said Nairn. Mr Pantry said Evie helps with loan applications, spotting items that might be missing or incomplete, or that she knows will impact the time it takes for a loan officer to reach a decision.

Simplified Lending has also expanded its range of products including expansion of lending to small and medium-sized businesses.

“You can talk tech and efficiency all day but, at the end of the day, it is quality of life that matters and that’s what we hope to bring to more people in Grand Bahama,” Mr Pantry said.

“We believe the presence of Simplified Group of Companies will create opportunities for others as we expand lending activity there, bring innovation and reflect our long-term commitment to the future of Grand Bahama.”

The new Freeport location is expected to open before the end of 2026, with recruitment already underway for Bahamians to fill positions including AI and robotics assistants and general AI and robotics support staff.

New employees will receive targeted training and development to build skills in AI and robotics, creating opportunities for Bahamians to participate in this emerging field. These roles will involve working alongside AI agents and robots, providing human guidance, oversight and support needed to deliver a more efficient and personalised client experience.