By Ibrahim Joenal Sesay
FREETOWN, Jan. 27 (232news.com) – For their outstanding performance over the years, A Call To Business (ACTB) Savings and Loans Limited has been awarded as the best Regional Micro Finance Bank of the year by the Manor River Union Bankers.
The award which was presented at the ACTB Headquarters in Freetown on Tuesday 16th November 2021 was received by the Chief Executive Officer ACTB, David Alpha Kamara.
ACTB Marketing and Deposit Mobilization Coordinator, Rockslyn Alwyn Findlay who served as the master of ceremony, said that the ACTB Savings and Loans Limited has been in existence since 2008, and that it is a microfinance institution that has now been transformed into a deposit taking institution.
He pointed out that they were given the license to operate in 2017 by the Central Bank of Sierra Leone to serve as the first microfinance bank in the country.
He furthered that they have embarked on many activities that have contributed to human capital development in the country.
He maintained that as an institution, they believe in impacting on the lives of people and not just giving out loans, which he said they have been doing since they started operations in the country.
He disclosed that their work is not only limited to Freetown, but that they have ventured to other parts of the country, and now have 11 operational branches.
He also disclosed that they now have an orphanage taking care of over 30 kids who are orphans and less privileged, and as a Christian organization, they believe in giving back to society, which is part of their Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR).
He added that they have employed caregivers to provide services to the kids.
He furthered that as the Bank of Sierra Leone’s financial inclusion drive, they are now operating a savings and loans system.
Coordinator of Manor River Bankers Achievement Award, Abdul Wahaba Bangura in his brief statement, said that the African Achievers Awards operates in over 17 African countries, adding that he was appointed by the CEO in Abuja as a Country Rep for Sierra Leone.
Noting that they will be collecting their awards from the 9th to 10th December 2021 in London, UK, he congratulated the CEO of ACTB.
He furthered that he has submitted names of financial institutions for the award, namely: Lapo, Apex and microfinance Ecobank for the category of the best microfinance bank of the year under the Mano River Bankers Achievement Awards, adding that because of the COVID-19, the event was hosted in Liberia, but that hopefully next year’s event will be hosted in another venue.
He disclosed that an official letter has been sent informing ACTB that they will be officially awarded on the category of the best microfinance organization.
He maintained that achieving this feat is no mean one, to be recognized by a neighbouring country for one’s activities and encouraged others to continue to do their work well, adding that there are more recognition awards to come after this one, and that this is just the beginning of things to come.
In his key note address ACTB CEO David Alpha Kamara said that looking back to where they started, he is pleased with the progress they have made so far.
He applauded his dynamic team for their efforts in reaching their goal, and dedicated the award to all their clients.
He furthered that when they started, they only had 123 clients, but today they have 22,000 customers, noting that without the staff they would have been able to get the recognition they now have.
He promised to improve on their work.
