the Bank of Butterfield.

Vice president of personal and branch banking, Mr. Smith, 42, finishes his duties at the bank today, after 19 years.

He said yesterday that he has no immediate employment plans. He intends to spend more time with his family before his children return to school, and, more time working on his initiatives at the Chamber.

On the eve of a General Election, he has ruled himself out as a political candidate, although he will continue working behind the scenes for the United Bermuda Party.

He said: "I'd never wish to jeopardise what I'm doing with the Chamber of Commerce and therefore I'm precluding myself from such a candidacy at least for the two years I'll be Chamber president.'' "I'm going fishing,'' he added. "I have no intention of looking for another job at the moment. In early or mid-September, I will start to think about what I want to do.

"I'm sending out a message to other Chamber members. I'm looking forward to devoting more time to the Chamber in the interim period. Any additional time I can spend on working for the Chamber will benefit the membership. There are also short term projects that will keep me busy.'' He said: "Call it mid-life crisis. Call it what you like. I'm at the stage in my life where I want to make some changes and I've decided to take some time to decide what I want to do. I may return to school.

"I'm leaving on good terms with the bank and I'm at the age where if I'm going to make a change, it has to be now. So I've taken the bull by the horns and I'm moving on.'' Mr. Smith has been a career banker, having worked in no other industry. He began after college at the Bermuda National Bank and continued with the Bank of Butterfield after the two merged in 1980.

He said that he is considering a number of ideas for the future and has heard from a number of people already, who could be interested in his services.

"The news of my departure from the bank has been spreading rapidly,'' he said, "and my telephone has been ringing off the hook. I'll have a lot to talk to various people about when I'm in a position to do so.'' Michael Smith Graphic file name: SMIITMI