As Sierra Leone ushers in 2025, the Senior Staff Association (SSA) of Rokel Commercial Bank has delivered a heartfelt New Year message, extending appreciation and hope for the year ahead.
In their statement, the SSA commended the exemplary leadership of the bank’s Managing Director, Dr. Walton Gilpin COOR, whose visionary guidance has elevated Rokel Commercial Bank to a prominent position within Sierra Leone’s banking sector. They highlighted his dynamic approach as instrumental in achieving remarkable milestones over the past year.
The SSA also expressed gratitude to the Board of Directors, management, staff, and the bank’s loyal customers for their unwavering support and dedication, which have collectively contributed to the institution’s success.
Looking forward to 2025, the association emphasized its commitment to fostering growth, collaboration, and continued excellence within the bank and the broader financial sector.
Concluding the message, the SSA wished everyone a prosperous and successful New Year filled with opportunities and achievements.
HAPPY New Year to all from the Senior Staff Association of Rokel Commercial Bank!
A total of 157 employees with long and unbroken records of service to Rokel Commercial Bank were honored for their dedication, hard work, and loyalty on Saturday, 14th September 2024, at the new Freetown City Complex.
The employees, who have worked between 15 and 35 years, include those who served during the Barclays Bank Plc era and after the transition to Rokel Commercial Bank following the transfer of ownership to the government and people of Sierra Leone.
There were emotional scenes inside the new City Hall as the awardees, divided into three categories based on their years of service, ascended a beautifully decorated stage to collect their plaques, accompanied by inspiring citations.
Millicent Cole, a long-serving female employee and the first woman to attain the rank of Director at the bank, recounted how the institution had faced a challenging period marked by liquidity and solvency issues, as well as low staff morale.
Despite these difficulties, the Director of Risk Management explained how the bank recovered from the brink and repositioned itself as a thriving, profitable, and stable financial institution in Sierra Leone.
Managing Director, Dr. Walton Ekundayo Gilpin, paid glowing tributes to the awardees, commending their dedication, hard work, loyalty, and selflessness. He urged all staff members to put aside their differences and exude positive energy as they look toward a more prosperous future with the bank.
“Let us convert our negative energies into positive energies, for it is not just the number of years you serve but the impact you make in the service of this bank and, by extension, your country,” he said.
Guaranty Trust Bank (GTBank) Sierra Leone staff held an Inter-Branch Football Gala which climaxed on Sunday, May 26th, 2024, to honor the memories of their late Sports Director, Mohamed Salieu Jalloh, and colleague, Isata Bah.
The grand finale at the O X-Ray Arena in Freetown saw HQ Marketing (*9737+ FC) face off against E/T East (Salary Loan FC) in a spirited match. The energetic crowd of supporters and spectators created an electric atmosphere filled with cheers, reflecting Jalloh and Bah’s passion for sports and community.
HQ Marketing (*9737+ FC) dominated the match with a decisive 5-0 victory over E/T East (Salary Loan FC). The team showcased exceptional skill and teamwork, attributes that Jalloh had tirelessly worked to instill in all sporting activities at the Bank.
Both teams were recognized for their participation in the event honoring their esteemed colleagues. Outstanding individual performances were also celebrated with special awards.
GTBank also used the occasion to connect with customers, showcasing their latest banking products and services. The event provided a platform for customers to learn about new opportunities with GTBank, enhancing their banking experience while enjoying a day of sport and community bonding.
The Inter-Branch Football Gala served as a beautiful tribute to Mohamed Salieu Jalloh and Isata Bah. It celebrated their contributions to GTBank and the community, emphasizing the values of unity, teamwork, and excellence they embodied. Their legacies will continue to inspire and guide the GTBank family.
RC Bank Junior Staff Association sets to host one of the biggest Fiestas in the country ahead of the Bank’s 25th Year Anniversary Celebration.
The “RCBank Cashless Fiesta “will be on show on 20th April 2024 at the Hamilton Resort, 5 Adrian Drive Hamilton.
Attending the RCBank Cashless Fiesta will introduce the unique sounds, beats and vibes of Sierra Leone and also help customers and non customers better understand the Bank’s various product and services. This incredible fiesta will combine some of the biggest names in the entertainment with local acts and other genres with their culture and heritage.
Speaking on the rationale behind organizing the Fiesta, Francis Gandi, President of the Junior Staff Association revealed that they dubbed the event as “RCBank Cashless Fiesta” because it aligns with one of the five Key Priorities of the Managing Director Dr. Ekundayo W. Gilpin. He recalled that at the start of 2024, the visionary Managing director emphasized on the need for moving away from traditional banking to that of creating a cashless environment in Sierra Leone that would facilitate banking transactions for customers. He further affirmed that the programme will be centered on the celebration of the 25th Year Anniversary, showcasing the bank’s various products and services to customers and non-customers through bonding with their clients.
“We will be having different packages for customers and staff and key among them is attractive Prizes for Winners in the quiz competition, Live Musical Performances, Rap battle among staff from various Branches, Dancing Competition, and Raffle competition for users of the Simkorpor Product amongst others. The Fiesta is for all the branches in the country as well as customers and non-customers. We want to interact with customers outside the banking halls for better understanding and we are using this opportunity for customers to witness first hand on how our Product and services works,” Mr. Ghandi States.
A fiesta which aims at promoting team bonding among the junior staff Association ahead of the Bank’s 25th Anniversary Celebration, artists like Empress P, Adfega, and many more will be performing live at this auspicious event.
The cashless Fiesta subscribed to the strives and vision the Managing Director is making to achieve a cashless society and bringing the bank closer to the people. RCBank-The Bank of Choice!!!
RC Bank Junior Staff Association sets to host one of the biggest Fiestas in the country ahead of the Bank’s 25th Year Anniversary Celebration.
The “RCBank Cashless Fiesta “will be on show on 20th April 2024 at the Hamilton Resort, 5 Adrian Drive Hamilton.
Attending the RCBank Cashless Fiesta will introduce the unique sounds, beats and vibes of Sierra Leone and also help customers and non customers better understand the Bank’s various product and services. This incredible fiesta will combine some of the biggest names in the entertainment with local acts and other genres with their culture and heritage.
Speaking on the rationale behind organizing the Fiesta, Francis Gandi, and President of the Junior Staff Association revealed that they dubbed the event as “RCBank Cashless Fiesta” because it aligns with one of the five Key Priorities of the Managing Director Dr. Ekundayo W. Gilpin. He recalled that at the start of 2024, the visionary Managing director emphasized on the need for moving away from traditional banking to that of creating a cashless environment in Sierra Leone that would facilitate banking transactions for customers. He further affirmed that the programme will be centered on the celebration of the 25th Year Anniversary, showcasing the bank’s various products and services to customers and non-customers and bonding with the Customers.
“We will be having different packages for customers and staff and key among them is attractive Prizes for Winners in the quiz competition, Live Musical Performances, Rap battle among staff from various Branches, Dancing Competition, and Raffle competition for users of the Simkorpor Product amongst others. The Fiesta is for all the branches in the country as well as customers and non-customers. We want to interact with customers outside the banking halls for better understanding and we are using this opportunity for customers to witness first hand on how our Product and services works,” Mr. Ghandi States.
A fiesta which aims at promoting team bonding among the junior staff Association ahead of the Bank’s 25th Anniversary Celebration, artists like Empress P, Adfega, and many more will be performing live at this auspicious event.
The cashless Fiesta subscribed to this strives and vision the Managing Director is making to achieve a cashless society and bringing the bank closer to the people. RCBank-The Bank of Choice!!!
The management of Sierra Rutile Holding Limited has informed affected staff by the redundancy notice including Sub stewards and General Staff that the company will commence a three-day distribution service of redundancy letters to its affected personnels effective Tuesday 26th March 2024 to Thursday 28th March 2024.
The redundancy letters will be issued alongside the payment slips and redundancy calculation in relation to end of service benefits.
The company is however calling on the attention of all those affected to attend a verification exercise to meet the appropriate requirements for payments.
Payment will be made into individual accounts by the end of March 2024.
In a situation where an affected is unable to attend the verification process, an opened communication is required ahead of the stipulated time frame through the union providing reasons for your absence.
The company however disclosed not taking responsibility of any deferral after the verification exercise as a payment requirement.
On February 14th, 2024, Guaranty Trust Bank (GTB) Sierra Leone painted its Offices orange with a vibrant celebration of Valentine’s Day, themed “Boku Boku Love.” The festivities climaxed with a grand finale at the Head Office in Freetown, marking a day filled with camaraderie, appreciation, and joy among staff members.
The anticipation for the event began a week prior, as employees were encouraged to add a touch of orange to their attire, symbolizing the “Orange love” they share for one another. But the celebration didn’t stop there; GTBank Sierra Leone went above and beyond to make this Valentine’s Day truly special for its staff.
Leading up to February 14th, branches were organized into batches, with each batch participating in a unique Valentine’s Day activity. Staff members from each branch had the opportunity to randomly select a colleague’s name, who would then become their designated Valentine for the occasion. This initiative fostered a sense of connection and camaraderie among coworkers, as they became “Valentine couples” for the duration of the celebration.
Throughout the week, these Valentine couples were encouraged to indulge in acts of kindness and appreciation, whether it be treating each other to lunch or exchanging flowers as tokens of affection. Additionally, each branch came together to select their “best couple,” who would represent them in the bank wide “best couple” competition.
The highlight of the celebration was the exchange of Valentine’s gifts during a grand finale and town hall meeting at the Bank’s Head Office. Staff members exchanged heartfelt tokens of appreciation, spreading love and positivity throughout the organization.
In addition to the Valentine’s Day festivities, GTBank Sierra Leone also took the opportunity to recognize the dedication and commitment of its long-serving staff members. Certificates for Long Service Awards were presented, honoring individuals for their years of service and contribution to the bank’s success.
Sharing his thoughts during the occasion, the Bank CEO/Managing Director, Mr. Ade Adebiyi touted the Bank for its commitment to employee empowerment. He noted that GTBank continues to empower employees by building a conducive environment for fun, creativity and innovation. “As we continue to serve our customers with the best financial service in Sierra Leone, it is necessary to recognize our staff who have excelled in our various pillars of focus. That is why we encourage each staff to give off their best by being an employer of choice” he said.
Speaking to Sierraloaded, Clifford Turay, a staff of the bank expressed gratitude and appreciation for the management’s efforts in organizing such a memorable celebration. He shared his happiness and expressed desire for this tradition of love and appreciation to continue for years to come.
In this year’s Diaspora FOCUS dinner and award night hosted at the prestigious Bintimani Hotel on the 19th December 2023, the leaders of the organization recognized institutions, other sectors and key personalities who are working tirelessly with unwavering commitment and are contributing positively to the development and growth of Sierra Leone as a nation.
The DiasporaFOCUS award is a National Annual Award conducted at the end of every year through a rigorous and transparent process to applaud and encourage individuals, institutions and other sectors to do more in their areas of specialization. The decision to be nominated as an awardee is certified by the committee of ethics and standardization of the organization to enhance equity and reduce familiarity threat.
On the 12th edition of the DiasporaFOCUS National Development Awards Night, the Managing Director & CEO Dr. Walton E. Gilpin and three staff garnered five awards including the Bank of the Year award 2023.
The eligible awardees were: 1. Dr. Ekundayo W. Gilpin – Managing Director of the Year 2. Mrs. Mariama Jajua – Exceptional Award for Community Development 3. Mr. Lithin Nasani – I.T GURU of the Year 4. Mr. Aruna Dumbuya – Public Relations Officer (PRO) of the Year
The Bank of the year award emanated not only from the ethics and standardization committee but also from the decisive reached of the legitimate vote casted from the general public.
The prestigious honor awarded by DiasporaFOCUS is a reflection of the Bank’s outstanding reputation and its consistent efforts in providing outstanding banking services to its customers. With a strong focus on customer centricity and innovation, Rokel Commercial Bank has emerged as a trusted name in the financial space.
As one of Sierra Leone’s top financial institutions, Rokel Commercial Bank has played a essential role in driving economic growth and development in the country.
This accolade serves as a testament to Rokel Commercial Bank’s untiring commitment to excellence and its significant contributions to the financial sector. Dr. Gilpin and awarded staff dedicated their awards to the bank and applaud staff of the RCBank for their various contributions and support that led them to be nominated by DiasporaFOCUS in the 12th Edition of the 2023 dinner and awards ceremony.
In Dr. Gilpin’s short statement of appreciation, he referenced the vision of His Excellency the President of the Republic of Sierra Leone Rtd. Brig. Dr. Julius Maada Bio, the Board, Management and Staff of Rokel Commercial Bank (RCBank) and thanked Dr. Emmanuel J.M Stafford and the leadership Team of DiasporaFOCUS for their continued quest to distinguish hard working Sierra Leoneans and other National working in the country. RCBank – The Bank of Choice!!!
