Hundreds of customers of the United Bank for Africa Sierra Leone (UBA-SL) have showered profound commendations on the bank for the recent detection and arrest of Twenty Thousand United States Dollars USD 20,000 counterfeit notes, at the bank’s headquarters on Charlotte Street in Freetown, disclosed a loyal UBA-SL customer.

At the weekly news conference held at Police Headquarter on George Street in Freetown, Detective Police Inspector Joshua Moisa attached to the Headquarters of the Criminal Investigation Department (CID) Tuesday 21^st February 2023 told journalists that they have in their custody one Ibrahim Barrie of No.7 Cole Street, Goderich who was reportedly arrested with US$20,000 counterfeit notes.

Reports say Ibrahim Barrie of the said address was about to deposit the USD20,000 counterfeit notes into his foreign account at UBA-SL on Monday 13^th February 2023 when he was arrested by the Resident Control Officer of UBA-SL, Abu Bakarr Bangura assisted by Police Constable 2049 Aminata Kamara.

The suspect told the police that he had a business transaction with one alias Jazz whom he said gave him fake USD 20,000 adding that the counterfeit notes have been sent to the Bank of Sierra Leone to ascertain whether they are genuine legal tender.

The incident raised tension among so many UBA-SL customers, but the management of the bank moved swiftly and brought the situation under its control with the interventions of the appropriate authorities including the central bank, the Police and the Financial Intelligent Unit, who are jointly examining the authenticity of the foreign currency notes.

Speaking to several customers in the banking hall on Tuesday 21^st February 2023, shortly after the discovery of the USD 20,000 counterfeit notes, Safiatu Bintu Kamara said they now feel safe, secured and protected with their cash at UBA-SL. “UBA-SL has really demonstrated high level of confidence in assuring us as customers that our moneys are in safe hands. And we now feel protected especially the way how the bank has proven to us that customers’ cash are safe and secured at UBA-SL”, she observed.

Another customer, Francis Osman Bangura who has long standing excellent customer care service with UBA-SL, also expressed firm confidence in the bank’s capacity in detecting counterfeit notes, fraud and in the protection of customers’ cash. He lauded the management and staff of UBA-SL for the good job done, saying that such transparent and best practices are exactly what the public expect from other commercial banks in the country’s financial service industry. Bangura furthered that UBA-SL has come long way in providing excellent banking services to customers in so many parts Sierra Leone and beyond.

Also in the banking hall, taller after the other disclosed that no matter the workload on them they will always check the authenticity of forex and local currencies brought in, furtherance of ensure quality control, safety and security of customers cash at UBA-SL.

A senior staff of the Marketing and Corporate Communications Department, UBA-SL said the moves by the bank in detecting the USD 20,000 counterfeit notes is just a smart showcase of how well positioned is the bank to counter and repel any attempt at defrauding and other forms of irregularities aimed at undermining the hard-earned image of UBA-SL. He reassured customers of the safety of their cash.