adhere728v90

BY THOMAS GBOW
The Sierra Leone Commercial Bank (SLCB) is the oldest indigenous commercial bank in the country established fifty years ago by the Government of Sierra Leone (GoSL), while Rokel Commercial Bank (RCB), which is also owned by the GoSL, became another indigenous commercial bank after Barclays Bank had wrapped up business in Sierra Leone. The third indigenous commercial bank is Union Trust Bank (UTB) which is owned hundred percent by Sierra Leoneans as shareholders.
These indigenous commercial banks are working assiduously toward contributing largely to the economic development of Sierra Leone in terms of effective service delivery to the general public as financial institutions.

Like all other financial institutions the world over, our indigenous commercial banks provide various financial services in a more transparent and accountable manner to win the confidence of the general public so that more individuals and institutions will be convinced to do business with them. But since these financial institutions are run by human beings, we sometimes expect human errors to occur because of our differences in character and behaviour.
It is against this backdrop that stringent rules and regulations are instituted by these banks for their staffs and punishments are meted out to defaulters including legal action(s).

It is however unfortunate that though the Sierra Leone Commercial Bank (SLCB) and Rokel Commercial Bank (RCB) are the People’s Banks, some unscrupulous Sierra Leoneans have taken predilection in writing unpleasant things about them so that the general public would have low opinions about them.

For instance, even though the Management of SLCB has a non-compromising tolerance for any sort of fraud committed by its staff and therefore does not sweep such acts under the carpet, irresponsible journalists would present such fraudulent acts as if the Management were in support of them.

Because of greed, selfishness and extortion, some would even attempt to blackmail Executive Officers of our indigenous commercial banks whenever they take legal actions against their staff members caught in fraudulent activities.

But what these unpatriotic journalists have failed to realize is that while the dividends of foreign commercial banks operating in Sierra Leone are remitted abroad to their parent financial institutions, the dividends of both SLCB and RCB go straight into our National Consolidated Fund instead of individuals’ pockets.

Such dividends are expended by the Government for development programmes aimed at improving the lives of Sierra Leoneans, irrespective of region or ethnicity. Instead of vilifying our indigenous commercial banks for selfish reasons, it is about time we partnered with them in terms of national development - a kind of symbiotic relationship where we can depend on each other in particular ways.

By and large, it is gross unpatriotism for unscrupulous journalists to vilify our indigenous commercial banks with apparent impunity, when they (the indigenous commercial banks) are contributing in no small measures to national development as compared to those foreign commercial banks in the country. Let’s therefore change our negative perceptions about them and promote their business activities for the good of the nation.

The Bank of Sierra Leone on Tuesday 19th September, 2023 issued a public notice on the off-shore – trading of foreign currencies for the Leone.


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).

By Yusufu Sesay
The undisputed leader in the banking industry in Sierra Leone, Sierra Leone Commercial Bank (SLCB), will today Thursday 21st September, 2023 officially inaugurate another state-of-the-art branch at Lumley in Freetown.
The opening of the Lumley branch aligns with SLCB’s vision to extend its reach to communities across Sierra Leone to ensure that everyone has access to secure reliable banking services.
SLCB always answers to the increasing demands of its esteemed clients and provides timely and speedy service to all.
Sierra Leone Commercial Bank (SLCB) is hundred percent Sierra Leonean owned bank that has been performing tremendously in the past six years and paying dividends to Government annually.
SLCB Lumley branch will offer a wide range of banking products and services to meet the financial needs of individuals, businesses and the community as a whole.
The branch will have state-of-the-art ATMs available 24/7 for convenient cash withdrawals and other banking transactions.
This strategic expansion is a testament to SLCB’s commitment to providing accessible and convenient banking services to the people of Sierra Leone. More details in the next edition.

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.

As they continue to give back to their subscribers in various communities across the country through the Africell Mega Promo, the leading mobile company in Sierra Leone, Africell, has presented a brand new motor bike to the sixth lucky winner of Africell Mega Promo for this week.

Receiving the brand new motor bike from Africell in Makeni on Tuesday September 12, Zanaib Dumbuya, the sixth lucky winner for this week, expressed thanks and appreciation to Africell for taking her out of poverty for which she has been dragging within the last 40 years.
"I felt good and excited.

I want to express my thanks and appreciation to Africell for taking me out of poverty. Thank you for taking me out of poverty which I have been battling with in the last 40 years. I think the reason why I won this bike; is because I have been recharging my phone since I heard about the Africell Mega Promo from August. And I know that is the reason why I have bagged this brand new motor bike" she stated.

She proudly pointed out that, since she has grown to an adult age, Africell was the only institution that has been good to her and her family, adding that she was actually in doubt of winning any of the prizes because of the negative perception been circulated on social media that the promotions are fake and was not true.

She mentioned that she said receiving the brand new motor bike to her was a humanitarian leadership showed by Africell and that she can happily now spread the message to others to believe in the promotion being offered by Africell.

"I am sure I can be a testimony now to other people. And I am sure such promotion is not only meant for the rich but I believe if you try your luck you can also be another winner.

I am so happy where I am today. I was not even dreaming of having a motorcycle, but today I am sure it is a call by the Almighty Allah. But look at my age, I now own a Brand New Motorbike. I am now an owner of a brand new motorbike which I have never dreamt of," she said. She continued that before this time she used to spend close to NLe 40 on transportation a day just for her kids to get to school, but however, she added clinching a brand new motorbike from Africell and, therefore, transportation for her children will be a thing of the past.

In her conclusive message, she once again thanked Africell for what they have done for her and her family. She called on all Africell subscribers to speedily rush and recharge their Africell SIM cards as the Mega Promo is still ongoing across the country and emphasized that you can be a lucky winner if God marks you to be the winner of the Mega Promo.

Definitely, she added you will be the next lucky winner.
Handing over the brand new motorbike to this week’s lucky winner, the Sales Supervisor for Africell, Northern Region, Mohamed Conteh, noted that they had been informing people about the ongoing Africell Mega Promo from Monday to Saturday every day, adding that since they started the promotion in August, this year, they have given 6 motorbikes out of the 24 motorbikes. He said the motorbikes are placed for lucky winners across the country. He disclosed that apart from the motorbikes, there are other cash prizes for people to win.
Mohamed Conteh explained that you can only be a lucky winner if you have a brand new Africell SIM card or you buy NLe10 Africell top-up so that you can be part of the lucky winners.
The Africell Sales Supervisor said Africell is trying to promote people, especially the less privileged.
He intimated that Africell as a true 'Kombra' mobile network in the country cannot differentiate between the poor and the rich, maintaining that Africell encourages every class of people and that as far as you are an Africell subscriber you stand a chance of being a lucky winner of the Mega Promotion.
Mohamed Conteh concluded by calling on all Africell subscribers to rush now and buy brand new SIM cards and also recharges Nle 10 top-up to stand a chance of winning the different Africell Mega Promo.


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.

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.

 

 

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.

Leading Headlines