First Bank of Nigeria launches operations in Sierra Leone

With the recent opening of a branch in Sierra Leone, First Bank of Nigeria Limited has further cemented its position as sub-Saharan Africa's largest corporate and retail banking company.

The branch is the result of First Bank of Nigeria's acquisition of International Commercial Bank (ICB). The bank is now doing business as FBNBank Sierra Leone, and staff is ready to serve clients in the public and private sectors.

“The launch of FBNBank Sierra Leone fulfills one of the critical stages of our ambition to steadily broaden and build a more diverse footprint across Africa," Bisi Onasanya, First Bank CEO, said. "We are committed to developing a multi-local business model that broadens our geographic revenue base while providing enhanced service delivery to our new customers and equity participation to local investors.”

In addition to the new location in Sierra Leone, First Bank of Nigeria operates branches and offices in Ghana, Guinea, Gambia, Senegal and South Africa on the continent as well as the United Kingdom, United Arab Emirates and China.

"Having built value for Nigeria over the last 120 years, First Bank through FBNBank Sierra Leone is poised to do even more in the Sierra Leonean financial market," FBNBank Sierra Leone Managing Director Nelson Akande said. "FBNBank Sierra Leone will provide customers with a bouquet of banking solutions that make their financial lives more convenient and stress-free whilst providing a delightful service experience. Given our heritage and market leadership at FBNBank, we are committed to co-creation, to listen and input feedback received from our customers in the development of products and services that are relevant."