UBA Expands Operations

-Opens New Operational Branch In ELWA Junction

By Jackson C. Clay, Jr. Jr.

TNR, Monrovia, Liberia: In an effort to bringing the banking system closer to the ordinary people and to buttress government’s efforts to bridging the gap of financial inclusion, the United Bank for Africa Liberia limited (UBA) has opened a new branch within the city of Paynesville.

The new UBA branch which is located just at the Eternal Love Winning Africa (ELWA) junction was over the weekend dedicated and opened to the public following a brief ceremony.

Speaking during the ceremony, UBA’s Liberia limited Managing Director, Olalekan Balogun said the opening of the new sub-station marks another milestone in the existence of the bank’s operations in Liberia.

Balogun asserted that the foremost priority of the UBA is its customers and as such; meeting the needs of the customers remain paramount concern for as long the bank continues to operate in the country.

He disclosed that the opening of the sub-branch within the ELWA vicinity was as a result of the continuous outcry by its huge customers based within the area.

“As part of our guarding philosophy at the UBA, it states that customers first, so when they speak we listen and whatever they ask for we try as much as possible to make available such thing, so today is a testimony of our philosophy that says customers first,” Balogun said.

For his part, the Assistant Director for regulations at the Central Bank of Liberia (CBL), Borley Cooper expressed thanks and appreciation to the UBA family for the initiative.

Cooper indicated that the CBL takes very seriously the issue of financial inclusion, thus, the CBL stands ready to support the UBA in such a venture.

In a related development, The United Bank for Africa (UBA) has launched its educational package under the theme: “Each One, Teach One” for school going kids as a means of investing in their future and giving back to society.

The initiative which was launched at the SOS Children Village in Matadi Estate, recently in Monrovia, is in partnership with the SOS. It is under the UBA Foundation, the charitable or Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR) arm of the bank. The purpose is giving back to the countries in which it operates.

Providing the overview of the program, UBA Liberia head of Marketing and Corporate Communications, Melody Mezay Ketter said the purpose of the initiative is to create opportunities where members of the UBA staff voluntarily commit their time to communities and teaching youths various activities that would enable them a head start in life.

“The event was hosted simultaneously across all UBA subsidiaries in Africa with the intend to make huge social impact on youth on the continent and it serves as the UBA community service day worldwide,” Ketter said.

The UBA Liberia head of Marketing and Corporate Communications asserted that during the event, UBA staff committed to contributing to the communities through charity by teaching entrepreneur skills, managing and saving money, teenage pregnancy prevention and the donation of books.

She indicated that the bank is committed to this initiative in order to improve the lives of African youths through what she named as the four major areas of focus of the initiative, education, environment, economic and empowerment.

For his part, UBA Liberia Managing Director, Olalekan Balogun stated that UBA believes that quality education is the key to every opportunity in life and called on students of the SOS school to take seriously their education.

“Regardless of your background, once you have education, no matter where you are coming from, it can take you to any level in this life and that is why we at UBA believe that education is the key to every opportunity in life,” Balogun said.

The UBA Managing Director stated that the initiative is the bank’s own way of identifying with the school, thus, the young students are the future of the Liberian society and investing in them would help enable them take on the mantle of authority in the future.

The UBA Liberia limited Managing Director asserted that the ELWA branch of the bank is the only one within the area, thus, it is going to provide the necessary and quality services to its many customers in the area.  NR