March 15, 2021
By Aruna Kamara (Bo)
The Managing Director of Access Bank Sierra Leone Limited last week Friday officially opened the branch of the Bank along Tikonko Road in Bo. The opening ceremony attracted high profiled dignitaries including the traders in Bo.
Speaking at opening ceremony, the Managing Director of the Bank, Ganiyu Sanni said “Access Bank (SL) limited was established in November 2007 and it is a subsidiary of Access Bank PLC with Head Office in Nigeria.”
He disclosed that Access Bank is present in at least ten African countries with the desire to open additional offices in South Africa and a few other countries this year. He added that Access Bank is also established in Asia and Europe.
“I need to appreciate the government of President Julius Maada Bio for availing us the enabling environment to operate within the ambits of the laws of Sierra Leone. We also want to appreciate the Bank of Sierra Leone, the Paramount Chief and other stakeholders in the Bo Community for allowing us to set up our business office in Bo,” Access Bank MD said.
He pointed out that it was indeed another historic moment to launch the Lungi Branch last week.
According to him, with this branch, “we now have six branches officially, starting with four that we have had since over a decade ago and this is an indicator of our current drive to expand our frontiers and deliver quality service to customers in contributing to thriving business and economic growth in Sierra Leone.”
Mr. Sanni said “in addition to these branches, we have also ensured that there are other alternative channels of reaching and consummating transactions, citing Access Mobile, Internet Banking Platform called Access Pay, Orange Money, ATMS, Debit/Credit Cards, and WhatsApp Banking platforms. These innovations are meant to onboarding the USSD, Afrimoney and POS.”
He noted that the other products that have been made available in all their branches include, Corporate, SME personal loans, Investment Accounts, Bonds, Consumer Loans(M power) for salary earners, Women Banking Products(power Loan), remittances that include Access Africa, Western Union, and other contingent products.
‘’ We can achieve all these by first opening various types of accounts for customers including individual saving accounts, tiered accounts, corporate accounts, kiddies accounts, Solo accounts, which will take care of various strata of the society. Managing Director of Access bank said.
He maintained that they are committed to fostering endearing mutually beneficial partnership with the people of Bo through seamless financial intermediation.
In his statement, the Paramount Chief of Kakua Chiefdom, PC Prince Lappia Boima said “this is the sixth bank in Bo that I am witnessing the opening ceremony and that this will make the business community lively and competitive”.
He said that he is not only a chief coming from a class room as a teacher but a businessman with a business firm-Sidami established along the New Jerehun Road in Bo, adding that “Access Bank is welcome to Bo.”
Speaking to this medium, after the opening of the Bank, those who first opened saving and current account with Access Bank said that “we are happy for the establishment of the Access Bank in Bo because their products including the loan scheme will help alleviate poverty in the country,” a customer said.
Another customer, Alusine Sesay said: “ I have no doubt in the Access Bank ‘s services or products offered to the public because the bank has helped to alleviate poverty in the areas they have so far established. The people in Bo will enjoy quality banking services with Access Bank.”
The Branch Manager of newly Access Bank, Mohamed Massaquoi reassured the people of Bo that the bank will live up to popular expectation.