By BIANCA SYMONETTE, Guardian Staff Reporter, bianca@nasguard.com

Business at Commonwealth Bank's Golden Gates branch came to an abrupt halt yesterday morning after two gunmen successfully pulled off the first bank robbery of the year.

The armed men, who were not wearing masks, entered the bank, demanded funds and escaped with an undetermined amount of cash. No one was harmed.

Police have launched an island-wide manhunt for the culprits following the brazen daylight robbery.

Bank customer, Maryann Ferguson, a Defence Force marine, said the robbery was over in a matter of minutes.

Ferguson said she was sitting, waiting for her mother-in-law to cash a check when she saw the robbery unfold.

"When I looked up, I saw a silver chrome gun pointed at the male teller's face and the expression of the teller's face was painful," she said. "I just eased my way down to the floor from where I was sitting and I crawled into another area of the bank. Persons had no idea why I was crawling but when they looked up and saw what was happening, they all got down on the ground."

Ferguson added that while the bank was crowded people did not panic and remained calm while the robbery took place.

She said the man who demanded the cash was about five feet, four inches tall, dressed in a stripped polo shirt with dark blue pants and appeared to be in his early 20s.

Chief Superintendent Glen Miller told reporters at the scene on Monday that police received the call about the bank robbery around 11:46 a.m. and that officers were quickly dispatched to the area from the South Beach and Carmichael Road stations.

According to the police, one of the men jumped on top of the bank's counter, held out a gun and demanded cash from the teller.

The men, one of whom was wearing dark shades and the other a cap with fake dreadlocks, escaped on foot. They were reportedly last seen heading east on Blue Hill Road and disappeared into nearby bushes.

Miller said the police had received unconfirmed reports that after fleeing on foot, the gunmen escaped in a waiting car, which was described as white.

According to Miller, officers were in the process of gathering information from bank officials, customers and nearby residents to help them in their investigations.

Miller said according to the information received from eyewitnesses, the robbers may have been armed with 9 millimeters handguns.

He noted that the bank's surveillance video would also be used to assist officers in their investigations.

Miller reported that no one in the bank was harmed and no shots were discharged from the weapon.

However, one employee had to be treated for shock. The obviously shaken woman was taken out of the bank on a gurney and was being treated with oxygen by ambulance attendants.

When reporters arrived at the bank, scores of officers were combing nearby bushes adjacent to the building where the men made their getaway. Officers were also canvassing residents in the area.

To ensure that businesses in the area do not become targets of armed robberies, officer in charge at the Carmichael Police Station Superintendent Wayne Miller said police presence in the area would be beefed up.

"We will increase our visibility in this area to make sure that customers and staff feel safe when in this area and we have assured them that the banks will continue to be patrolled in this area," Miller said.

The bank was closed for the remainder of the day and is expected to return to normal operating hours on Tuesday.