In seven years of operations, Guaranty Trust Bank (Sierra Leone) Limited has become the 3^rd most profitable bank out of 14 banks operating in Sierra Leone, of which one is over 100 years. In terms of total assets and deposit, the bank now ranks 4^th amidst three big banks who have operated for over 35 years.

GTBank has a huge appetite for big ticket transactions which has availed us a competitive edge in the Sierra Leone banking industry. We support both private and government initiatives. We are major bankers to all the Telecommunications companies, major petroleum companies, governmental parastatals, major importers and mining companies and several other institutions including SME’s. The Bank’s support was particularly visible in the New Government’s initiatives in the power sector and the importation of much needed commodities. Our experience in the mining and exploration industries has positioned us to receive minimum average monthly inflow of $10 million. Our returns to shareholders have increased steadily over the years amidst stiff competition.

We remain an irritant to success with an unrivalled team driven to deliver the utmost in customer service and the urge to be the best at all times whilst adding value to stakeholders.

Products, services and transactions

Customers have been availed greater opportunities in terms of banking with ease and these include creating innovative products and services, especially in the electronic aspect of banking that has been designed to suit their needs.

The Bank remains the first bank to introduce an electronic notification system - Guaranty Trust Electronic Notification System (GeNS) - which notifies customers about all transactions on their accounts via their phones and e-mail (On-Line Real Time). Accounts can also be accessed through our Internet and mobile banking services. We have always been leaders in innovation and we are the first bank also to introduce the following products and services to the Sierra Leone community:

Relationship Management

Mobile/SMS banking

Guaranty Trust Electronic Notification System (GeNS)

Salary Loan Scheme

Cash collection implants

Statement by email

Salary Advance Scheme

Smart Kids/students Savings account

Hajj Accounts

We are in the process of installing eight ATM’s in all our branches and strategic business areas by the start of 2010.

Guaranty Trust Bank was chosen to partner with SPLASH MOBILE MONEY, the country’s first mobile payments service. The banked and the unbanked population of Sierra Leone especially in the provinces can send or receive money using their mobile phone and payment would be done by their Agents scattered all over Sierra Leone.

Employers can now pay their staff salaries with ease as salaries can be posted using our BITWIZE format which is faster and easier. We also have products like the Staff Salary Loans, Salary Advance Scheme and many others for large corporate and government employees. We are a friend to the business community.

Our Relationship Management concept has transformed the banking landscape of Sierra Leone.

The services of Deposit Drivers have been engaged to make banking easier for our customers and to mop up deposits from the public. This initiative has given the bank the necessary competitive edge with the resultant growth on our deposits.

We regularly provide valuable advice to the national government and government agencies/parastatals with a view to improve revenue collection and reduce leakages of funds at this donor fatigue moment.

As the economy is recovering from a 10-year civil war, there are various untapped business opportunities. We have made it a priority to pay attention to prospective businesses by understanding their proposals and monitoring their execution. Our appetite for big ticket transactions has contributed greatly to our bottom line.

Branch Network and other service channels

Our network of branches has grown to 7 with ultra-modern structures designed to create a lasting impression to our customers and is complemented by 8 Cash centres/ implants within the premises of major customers and connected to the Head Office to ease cash collection activities. Average daily cash collection from the cash centres is over Le1 billion. In the government circle we are known as the ‘Government Trusted Bank’ because we provide various revenue collection strategies using robust technology and young workforce.

Social responsibility initiatives

Our 2009 Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR) goal was aimed at contributing to achieving the Bank’s business objective and at the same time giving the bank a significant mileage in contributing to nation building. The main areas of focus for 2009 were in Sports, Education and Health as we supported the first Sierra Leone Premier League Football, The Johansen Football Club. In the Health sector, we supported the Business Coalition against Aids in Sierra Leone (BCAASL) for the prevention of the disease in institutions and the country as a whole. In terms of Education, we celebrated the Day of the African Child with kids from different schools who took the role of Senior Managers in the branches.