By Amin Kef Sesay
At the helm of banking business in the country since 2002 when they arrived Guaranty Trust Bank Sierra Leone Limited continues to render its operations to its numerous customers.
The Managing Director of the Bank, Mr Adekunle Adebiyi said the reason he joined the Bank from Nigeria was because of the Bank’s quality and passion for greatness.
He said when he was transferred to Freetown, he was very happy because GTBank in Sierra Leone has been a success story and he wanted to be part of that great story.
“GTBank in Sierra Leone and across Africa has been winning so many accolades that have proven beyond all reasonable doubts that quality and excellent workforce has been the hallmark of the company. GTBank in Sierra Leone has won the Best Bank on several occasions by AWOL and other organizers and the Bank has been making profits steadily year on year.
“We know that there are challenges in our operations in the country but as you know every institution at some point faces such but those challenges are always surmountable and will move one,” Adebiyi said and added that since he arrived he has been working to continue the ascendancy of the Bank and sustained its operations within the confines of the law to keep the profit going and the reputation of the Bank.
He said the Bank has been very instrumental in the Government’s Free and Quality Education as they have been supporting schools across the country with learning materials, stating that an educated nation is a rich and successful nation.
Adebiyi said they are not taking their Corporate Social Responsibility any lightly and they have been supporting so many organizations and institutions like the Police Wives, Amputees, School for the Deaf and Dumb.
“Because of our banking relationship with our customers, we have helped grow so many businesses in the country through better loans and overdrafts. We will continue to make sure we help develop more businesses in the years to come,” he promised.
The Managing Director averred that they are passionate about building the Bank of the future by leveraging the best of technology to add real value to their customers’ lives, and the awards they have been winning illustrate the hard work and commitment of their staff, Management and Board towards achieving that goal.
“GTBank is the Best Bank in Africa and the Best Bank in Sierra Leone. The Bank’s digital drive and its clarity of vision in reimagining the future of banks and banking is the commitment to leading the future of banking as well as its consistency to long-term strategy led by their Senior Management team that does not abhor complacency and keeps the business in a constant state of innovation.”
Mr Adebiyi noted that GTBank has consistently played a leading role in Africa’s banking industry and their brand is regarded by industry watchers as one of the best run financial institutions across its subsidiary countries and serves as a role model within the financial service industry due to its bias for world class corporate governance standards, excellent service quality and innovation.
“As a leader in innovation, GTBank customers have been availed greater opportunities in terms of banking with ease and these include creating innovative products and services, especially in the electronic aspect of banking that has been designed to suit their needs. The Bank remains the first bank to introduce an electronic notification system – Guaranty Trust Electronic Notification System (GeNS), which notifies customers about all transactions on their accounts via their phones and e-mail (On-Line Real Time). Accounts can also be accessed through our Internet and mobile banking services.”
He said the bank was chosen to partner with SPLASH MOBILE MONEY, the country’s first mobile payments service. The banked and the unbanked population of Sierra Leone especially in the provinces can send or receive money using their mobile phones and payments would be done by their Agents scattered all over Sierra Leone. The bank is also an agent for AIRTEL MONEY.
“Employers can now pay their staff salaries with ease as salaries can be posted using our GTBank Automated Payment System which is faster and easier. We also have products like the Staff Salary Loans, Salary Advance Scheme and many others for large corporate and Government employees. We are a friend to the business community. Our Relationship Management concept has transformed the banking landscape of Sierra Leone.”
