By Foday Moriba Conteh
As part of their efforts geared towards creating a platform that allows users/customers to conveniently access their bank accounts and conduct transactions using mobile phones and to put smiles on the faces of their customers, Guaranty Trust Bank Sierra Leone Limited (GTB-SL) has on Monday 22nd August, 2022 unveiled its GT World SL Mobile App and “Kip Fo D Bambai” Promotion at a ceremony that was held at its Head Office on Wilberforce Street in Freetown.
In his statement, the Managing Director of GTB, Ade Adebiyi, described the occasion as an important milestone in the development of products in the bank.
He maintained that it is no coincidence that the bank is in the process of testing the national switch with the Central Bank (Bank of Sierra Leone) revealing how, over the years, the Bank of Sierra Leone has been telling financial stakeholders in the banking sector about Financial Inclusion, noting that they are at the tail end of actualizing Financial Inclusion.
“In the sense that wherever you are in the country without going into the banking hall, you are able to do your transactions on your computer, on your phone, on laptop or even by going to an agent,” he said.
He continued that in ensuring that they align with the Financial Inclusion objective of the regulator, they are launching the GT World to market their customers.
Ade Adebiyi assured that it is a simple product that can be used without encountering difficulties referencing how 2 years ago they launched their USSD project which, he said, is similar to the GT World.
“Today, it is very significant that as the price of data in the industry crashes, we now need a product whereby you can do similar things using the internet. And, GT World is a product that is similar to the USSD but uses the internet and can do virtually everything. And with the National Switch coming on, you will also be able to transfer money to other banks instantly,” he explained.
He reiterated that with this app, the bank policy of the Central Bank is coming to play as there will be no need to be carrying plenty of cash.
The Managing Director applauded the Bank of Sierra Leone for pushing the agenda for Financial Inclusion.
Giving an update on the ‘Kip Fo D Bambai’ promo, Head of SME Banking, Kelwina Martyn explained that the promotion will last for a three-month period starting from August to October of this year.
She furthered that during the three months period, they are encouraging their customers to save with the bank and maintain their balances in their accounts.
“We have three (3) different qualifying categories which are the Silver, Gold and Platinum. For the Silver, a fresh deposit of account balance must be Three Thousand Leones (Le3000) which is Three Million Leones (Le3, 000,000) in the Old Leones, the sum of Five Thousand Leones (Le5000) which is Five Million Leones (Le5, 000,000) in the Old Leones for the Gold and Ten Thousand Leones (Le10, 000) which is Ten Million Leones (Le10, 000,000) in the Old Leones for the Platinum,” she stated.
Kelwina Martyn added that during the period of the promotion, customers who are qualified in the various categories will stand a chance to win attractive prizes.
She disclosed that customers stand the chance to win air conditioners, microwaves, blender, electric iron, rice cooker in the silver category; smartphones, gas cooker or refrigerator in the gold category and musical set, deep freezer and smartphone in the platinum category.
The Head of SME Banking called on their customers as well as those who are not banking with the bank to take advantage of the opportunity by joining the bank and meet the threshold for qualification.
In her presentation, the Corporate Affairs Officer of GTB, Victoria Wright explained that the GT World App gives access to customers to carry-out their transactions using their Smartphones no matter their location.
She furthered that through the GT World SL App one will be able to open an account using the app, do transfer, buy airtime, check balance, a finder to locate the nearest branch or ATM, payment of bills, customer care among other facilities.
Victoria pointed out that they have three (3) categories of targeted customers for the app, which are the young generation, the middle age and the aged.
