Rokel Commercial Bank Looks to Go Continental – Liberia Might Be the First Step
Rokel Commercial Bank (RCBank), one of Sierra Leone’s biggest and most trusted financial institutions, is officially thinking beyond borders. A high-powered team from the Bank, led by its Managing Director, Dr. Walton Ekundayo Gilpin, took off for Liberia on Tuesday, July 1, 2025, on a week-long mission that could mark the beginning of something big—not just for the Bank, but for the entire country.
The goal? To explore the possibility of setting up shop in Liberia as part of RCBank’s larger plan to expand across West Africa.
“We haven’t come here for fun,” said Dr. Gilpin confidently. “This trip is about proving that Sierra Leone can be a serious player in the regional finance game. We’re here to explore opportunities—and we’re hopeful.”
During their stay in Liberia, the team met with potential partners, analyzing the market, and basically doing all the homework needed to figure out whether RCBank could become part of Liberia’s financial scene. And this isn’t just about one new branch or some ATMs—it’s about scaling Sierra Leonean banking excellence across borders.
If there’s one name that’s become almost synonymous with transformation at RCBank, it’s Dr. Walton Gilpin. Since taking over as Managing Director, he’s completely changed how people view the bank. Under his leadership, RCBank has gone from a traditional state-owned bank to one of the most forward-thinking, tech-savvy financial institutions in the country.
From introducing digital banking platforms to modernizing customer service, Gilpin’s leadership has made banking easier, smarter, and more accessible for thousands of Sierra Leoneans. And now, he’s taking that same energy across the border.
Over the past two years, the bank has built global partnerships with institutions like:
- Standard Chartered Bank (USA)
- Ghana International Bank Plc
- UBA New York
- Aktif Bank in Turkey
- And most notably, the Pan-African Payment and Settlement System (PAPSS)
RCBank was one of the first banks in Sierra Leone to start using PAPSS, a system that allows real-time cross-border payments in local African currencies—which is a big deal for businesses and people who trade or send money across African countries.
If RCBank manages to successfully launch operations in Liberia, it could open major doors not just for the Bank but for Sierra Leone’s reputation in regional finance. It would be proof that homegrown institutions can compete and thrive across borders, challenging the dominance of foreign-owned banks in the region.
It would also mean:
- More opportunities for young professionals in both countries
- Stronger economic ties between Sierra Leone and Liberia
- And possibly more investment coming into Sierra Leone as international partners take notice
RCBank’s Liberia trip is part of a bigger vision—a vision of creating a pan-African bank with Sierra Leonean roots, driven by innovation, financial inclusion, and regional integration.
And with a bold leader like Dr. Gilpin at the helm—someone who believes in pushing limits and making big moves—it looks like that dream could become a reality sooner than later.
