Sierra Leone Commercial Bank Limited (SLCB) is still in good shape compared to many of its peers in the country's banking industry.
The bank has a fortresslike balance sheet with the largest in assets and Deputy Managing Director Bockarie Albert Kalokoh said the only risk to its failure is a collision of the earth and moon.
SLCB has the largest customer base and its operations are spread out across the country leveraging on its assets for profit. Mr Kalokoh asserted that the bank's transformation agenda is driven by a purpose, that's " Delivering value to all stakeholders". This the Deputy Managing Director explained is at the root of everything SLCB does; embedded in the mindset, measures and actions across the organisation. The leadership guru, Bockarie Kalokoh noted that their strategy is not focused on creating products; rather, they keep making experiments to identify the best solutions for its customers.
The board, management and staff continue to embark on an innovative journey to be better, said the Deputy Managing Director who has been at the helm of the bank's digital leadership since 2014.
During the Covid-19 pandemic, SLCB harnessed its technology infrastructure to making the bank accessible even at one's doorstep removing the hassle of having to walk into its branches to access services.
As an industry leader in digital innovation in the banking industry, SLCB launched amongst others QR payment, Mobile app, visa card, online banking, and bank to the wallet; all offering convenience, speed, flexibility and security.
About the man behind the Bank's digital leadership
Bockarie Kalokoh has been the Deputy Managing Director since May 2017 been in charge of rejuvenating SLCB's products, its communication as well as its image.
He has a lengthy career in the banking industry, which over two decades have seen him at the helm of several critical departments.
He was Director of Finance & Administration at the Union Trust Bank, General Manager responsible for Credit & Marketing at Guaranty Trust Bank (SL) Ltd, Supervising Senior at KPMG SL and Assurance Consultant with KPMG Professional Services Nigeria. Before attaining the position of Deputy Managing Director, Kalokoh was Director of Finance & Administration (April 2010 - May 2017) and Director of Business Development & Special Assistant to the Managing Director ( Dec 2006 - March 2010).
Bockarie Kalokoh studied BSc (Hons)Economics at Fourah Bay College graduating in 1995. His educational achievements include:
- Doctor Business Administration, Walden University 2019 to 2022
- EMBA Leadership, Jack Welch Management Institute 2016
- MBA Leadership, Strayer University 2016 to 2019
- Executive Certificate in Negotiation Skills, Harvard University 2017
- Executive Certificate in Leadership, Jack Welch Management Institute 2016
- Certificate in Leadership & Strategy, Euro Money 2015
- ACA Accounting & Finance, Institute of Chartered Accountants Nigeria
Bockarie Kalokoh has commercial awareness, industry knowledge and financial management skills amongst others any CEO of a very competitive banking industry needs. He is ideally positioned to lead SLCB to its next phase of growth. His teamwork is immeasurable as was remarked by the late hardworking and dedicated Managing Director Mr Abdulai Fidelis Turay. They worked together with the team to grow the bank's profitability to an enviable position and establishing it as the best digitally innovative bank in the country. He is particularly relevant to the current and expected transformation of SLCB operations as he executes the bank's innovative digital play. With Bockarie Kalokoh at the helm of affairs, the sky has no limit for the brand with the lion logo symbolising the king of the jungle ' banking industry '.
The bank's employees are also positive about the Deputy Managing Director with an approval rating standing at 84% according to a survey done by this medium responding to their request to having him at the helm of affairs for continuity and profitability.
There is nothing good, dedicated, visionary organizational leadership cannot achieve. Led by a competent, very highly productive Managing Director, Fidelis Turay and Deputy Managing Director, Bockarie Kalokoh driven by a team of dedicated senior management staff and a very supportive Chairman and Board of Directors, the Sierra Leone Commercial Bank has enviably topped the Bank of Sierra Leone’s commercial banks performance chart for twelve consecutive quarters (4 years).
Orange Sierra Leone, the biggest and leading GSM operator in the country in its Orange Social Venture Project in collaboration with GEN Sierra Leone, at a ceremony on Wednesday 16th October, 2019 held at the British Council Hall, Tower Hill, Freetown awarded cash prize to the tune of Ten Million Leones (Le10, 000,000) to the winner, the Chief Executive Officer (CEO) of Agro Fish Farm (SL) Limited, Aminata F. Kandeh.The 2019 Social Venture first prize winner scored 198 points. First runner’s up, CEO of E Net, Samuel Kamara, scored 196 points and receivedcash prize of Le2.5m, one Wi-Fi and two gigabite; while the second runner up,CEO of Envitech Limited, scored 161 points and was awarded cash prize of Le2.5m, one Wi-Fi and two gigabite.
Following the fumigation of all its branches across Sierra Leone in a bid to cushion the spread and prevention of COVID-19, the Deputy Managing Director of Sierra Leone Commercial Bank (SLCB), Bockarie Kalokoh underscored the fact that SLCB is the safest bank for customers.
Orange is one of the leading telecommunications operators in the world, present in 29 countries with 154,000 employees worldwide. Orange operates in about 20 countries in Africa meaning that one in every10 people is an Orange customer.
With the corona virus emergency having thrown normal financial and banking activities into disarray, customers of Sierra Leone Commercial Bank (SLCB) have hailed the bank’s management for its proactive stance to banking needs. Of particular mention is the numerous cashless money transaction cards the Bank has introduced over the past twelve months which customers said have greatly eased the burden of doing their cash transactions locally as well as internationally.
At the UK-Sierra Leone Trade and Investment Conference held in London on Thursday June 6th 2019, Stuart Ponder, senior vice president INTL FC Stone informed His Excellency President Bio that through the Sierra Leone Commercial Bank, it sends over £50 Million Pounds into Sierra Leone annually.