By Audrey John
First Bank in Nigeria (FBN) Sierra Leone has on the 25th March 2022 opened its newest branch at cline town in the Eastern part of Freetown.
The purpose is to provide banking products and businesses around the eastern part of Freetown and the it provides twenty four hour ATM and online banking services, payments and collections of mobile money and funds transfer for those making NRA payment through ASYCUDA can now save time and transportation cost to make payments.
FBN Bank is a subsidiary of First Bank in Nigeria with over nine million Customers and has built a very good track recording in ensuring that people’s monies are safe.
FBN Board of Director Oluniyi Robin Coker lauded the initiative of establishing a new branch despite that the bank investment is slow down by Ebola and Covid-19. He assured the public that the bank is here to stay and grow with the people of Sierra Leone.
Noting that the bank is not a fly night financial institution, rather a solid institution that has existed for about 127 years and as the bank support the Bank of Sierra Leones, it has made efforts to deepen financial inclusion and ensure financial growth in the economy, Coker narrated.
Managing Director Udeme O. Udoh said they commit taking financial services to the door step of Sierra Leoneans, and it is their intention to make their presence felt in every city in the country as well as other places across the country. He called on Sierra Leoneans to patronize the bank by opening bank account and assured them that the bank is here to stay and the bank will be opened to exchange notes when the redenomination process starts. He emphasized and assured that it is not a portfolio bank but will continue to stay and sever the nation.
Professor Kaifala Kallon, Bank Governor thanked the management of FBN bank for such developments and implore the bank to take financial services to others places across the country as the bank already have two branches and the new branches will increase financial inclusion.
He encouraged the bank to develop digital banking products to attract more customers and eastern people should take advantage of the banking services provided by the bank. Prof. Kallon made mention of the Sierra Leone Commercial bank that they played an important role in the development of the economy, and that very soon they will launch the national switch to ease the burden of funds transfer and improve a cashless society. He concluded that if we do the right thing when they redenominate the country people will benefit greatly and he will ensure that they will protect the value of the new Leone.
