By Donstance Koroma

The largest bank in Africa, the United Bank Africa Sierra Leone Limited (UBASL) Ltd., has on Wednesday 24^th May 2023 unveiled George Menelik Benjamin (Drizilik), Sierra Leone Youth Ambassador as UBASL’s Brand Ambassador for Leo and NextGen retail banking products for a year.

The official unveiling took place at the bank’s headquarters on Charlotte Street, Freetown.

Acting Managing Director and Chief Executive Officer, Mohamed Alhajie Samoura, expressed his profound delight for the pact, noting that during the official signing, his statement was short and wanted to do likewise.

According to the Acting MD/CEO, he sees the unveiling as a personal project completed. He recalled the previous year, when he was talking to staff and sharing ideas, popularizing the bank products was key among the discussions.

He continued; “I told staff that we have products that the institution is not popularizing,” adding that staff and families don’t use their products, hence the reason the bank needs to go beyond the normal to popularize its products.

MD/CEO furthered that the bank is accustomed to using the traditional media to popularize products, but this time around, “we want to make use both the traditional media and social media spaces, this is where UBA’s Brand Ambassador comes in.”

MD/CEO Samoura continued, that the UBASL Brand Ambassador is also youth Ambassador for Sierra Leone, which he noted indisputably makes the best artist and product, which UBASL is proud of.

“UBA, as a banking institution, we are very jealous of our brands and as such takes our time to associate with any relationship” MD/CEO said. He therefore continued, it was a deliberate choice of choosing Drizilik, MD/CEO told journalists.

Drizilik is also jealous of its brand, and individuals of such nature coming together demonstrate a marriage of convenience, MD/CEO Samoura stated.

“We at UBASL support our local entertainment industry disclosing that they supported the Eco Festival and many more. “Just take a look at the flyers of entertainment industries you will see UBASL logo on most of them, if not all, the banking administrator urged.

He said the UBA foundation is behind them, willing and ready to support the institution’s activities. At country level, we are supporting in the areas of education, entertainment, youth and the environment.

“You don’t need a bank branch in Kabala to associate with UBASL, with data on your phone, one can access Leo on any of the social media platforms” MD/CEO concluded.

Making a statement, UBASL’s Brand Ambassador, Drizilik expressed delight for the partnership.

He said he opened his first bank account with the UBASL in 2016, stating his engagement with UBASL shows how important money is to him as an individual.

As an ambassador my music speaks generally to African youths. As a youth myself, I believe in the growth of youth and the economy as a whole.

“Proper control of finance by youth will really help them in the future” he said.

It has been a long time coming, he said while appreciating the time spent and individuals involved in the negotiation as he looks forward of having a good relationship with the bank, especially the Leo and NextGen team.

The products are for youth and I will use my platform to draw more customers in ensuring that they make good use of the products.

Acting Head, Digital Banking, Cyril Macaulay in his presentation on the Leo product said Leo is magical as it is a virtual banker that can do everything for customers just like Tella banking.

He defined Leo as an artificial intelligent that is interactive and easy to use and makes life easy and continued that the product is a simple character that is in mobile phones that can be used by all, that is, UBASL and none UBASL customers.

You can use Leo to open an account with the bank and do business likewise.

He stated Leo can be found in all social media channels like messenger, goggle search, WhatsApp, Facebook, Apple store among others, with each Leo channels with a verified tag.

He noted that it is impossible to access those channels without the verified tags.

Disclosing the enrolment procedures to access Leo, the virtual banker on WhatsApp, Acting Head of Digital Banking encouraged all to enter 078-919- 919, say hi to Leo and will respond to you with your name, he said.

“Leo will list down its menu options with the various things he can do, after select option A, will ask you to check your account balance. For you to continue, he will ask you for your card details that will give any the opportunity to fully register with Leo, submit and automatically becomes fully register with Leo,” Macaulay said.

The product, he added benefit the customers in efficient service, easy access and usage, fast and secure connection.

Leo, he said can facilitate instant account opening, which he stressed the bank wants to preach for others to know about, especially non-customers.

Leo enables customers to check their account balance, thereby preventing the old fashion style of queening in front of banks, UBASL’s digital banking expert told the gathering.

Leo also provides customers mini bank statement, the last five transactions, use to send money, bill payments, purchase airtime, linked new accounts, find UBASL’s closet bank at different locations across the country, noting that these, among many other reasons why the virtual banker, Leo is second to none.

The digital banking guru provided the URLs: http:/mme/ubachalbanking and https://apple.co.13ykzyt as links and advised customers and none customers to always   look for the verified tags.

He cautioned all and sundry that Leo does not send friendly request to people and pleaded with all to be aware of internet fraud.

Leo, the virtual chat box, will never ask you for sensitive information, he assured, while calling on all to own an account with UBASL and introduce Leo to many.

Head of Retail Banking, Anita Thomas said the NextGen and Leo are retail products for individual.

She disclosed that the NextGen is a youth friendly account that caters for people between the ages of 18-25.

According to her, people with the said ages of 18-25 are predominantly pupils in both junior and senior secondary or students in universities of which majority do not have identification cards.

To open such an account with the bank, she said the individual just need a completed account opening form, passport seize picture, university or school identification card, consent and ID of parents, if the child is under age 18.

Thomas said the NextGen Account is a high breed because it accepts cheques from parents and guardians.

Because the account will be accepting cheques from third party, need two references, hence will be operating like a current account, she said.

The minimum opening balance, she disclosed stands at Two Hundred and Fifty Thousand Old Leones with a credit rate of 3.5 per annum.

The NextGen account is a current and saving account in one that attracts interest she said.

If an account holder makes withdrawal three times a month will forfeit the interest, Anita Thomas cautioned.

The NextGen account accepts cheque from other banks and debit cards, with she said makes provision for bank transfers.

NextGen enables access to SMS alert, mobile banking and any other digital products and channels.

Speaking on the benefit of the account, Head of Retail Banking identified opportunity for internship with the bank, if any vacancy, personalized debt card, monthly pocket money worn by students during campus activities.

If the account holder is using his or her account to do five earning transactions will also win something from the banking institution.

Anywhere UBASL operates it is known for empowering talented youth and women to attain their fullest of potential especially in the entertainment industry and the education sector.

Many followers of entertainment see the young Drizilik as the would be giant of Sierra Leone’s entertainment industry having represented the country in many international platforms.

As a household name in the entertainment industry, it is the expectation of UBASL that Leo and NextGen retail products will becomes more popular in all districts across the country, because the two products are reflection of young people.