Rokel Bank Marks 26th Anniversary with Community Outreach and Support for the Less Privileged

Rokel Commercial Bank (RCBank), one of Sierra Leone’s leading financial institutions, commemorated its 26th anniversary with a heartfelt gesture of community service, donating essential food items and condiments to vulnerable and less privileged individuals in the capital city.

The outreach initiative took place at two key locations—the PWD area and Easter Police Barracks—both known for housing significant populations of homeless and disadvantaged residents.

Dr. Walton Ekundayo Gilpin, Managing Director of Rokel Commercial Bank, emphasized the bank’s commitment to corporate social responsibility (CSR) as a key pillar of its mission.

“To realize the true impact of our bank, we must go beyond profit-making. We identified areas where people are less advantaged and extended support to show we care. This demonstrates that we are indeed a bank for the people,” said Dr. Gilpin.

He explained that the donations were targeted at what he called the “buying business district”—an area often overlooked by mainstream banking but home to the disabled, homeless, and informal vendors who rarely benefit from traditional financial services.

“While we offer loans and financial products to small businesses, many in this district have little or no interaction with banks. It’s important that they too feel included in the national financial conversation,” he added.

Dr. Gilpin also noted that the 26th anniversary celebrations extended beyond Freetown, with similar activities taking place across Rokel Bank’s 20 branches nationwide, including recent expansions in Cline Town and Waterloo.

He reaffirmed the bank’s ambition to continue growing, provide employment opportunities, expand loan facilities, and make a significant contribution to national GDP growth, thereby reinforcing its role as a pillar of Sierra Leone’s financial sector.

Michaela Dora Macauley, the bank’s Marketing Manager, reflected on Rokel Bank’s achievements, particularly in digital marketing and innovation.

“Rokel Commercial Bank has made tremendous strides in digital marketing, now operating at international standards. We continue to market our products in ways that are accessible, modern, and customer-friendly,” she said.

Having served the bank for over 21 years, Macauley expressed pride in working for a progressive institution that actively includes diverse segments of society in its celebrations.

This year’s celebrations marked a shift from tradition. Aruna Dumbuya, Head of Public Relations, explained that previous anniversaries largely focused on staff recognition, including long service awards for over 150 employees.

“This year, we redirected our focus to the less privileged—distributing rice, sugar, salt, tomatoes, and other essentials to show that we see and support them,” Dumbuya said.
“This is a signal of hope that life continues, even amid poverty.”

He also credited the bank’s success to visionary leadership and the unwavering commitment of staff members at all levels.

Adding a unique dimension to this year’s anniversary was a junior internship program involving members of the Kids Parliament, who joined Rokel staff in the outreach activities and rotated through various departments within the bank.

One participant, Miss Jackson, recounted her experience:

“I worked in the marketing department and learned how to engage with clients and maintain strong customer relationships. It was a very different and exciting experience from my expectations of a bank.”

Another intern praised the bank’s digital infrastructure and the opportunity to work under pressure in a professional environment that fosters confidence and growth.

Throughout the program, Dr. Gilpin, acting as moderator, encouraged the young interns to appreciate the importance of financial inclusion, responsible banking, and innovation in service delivery.

“We are committed to nurturing the next generation of leaders and ensuring that all Sierra Leoneans—regardless of social or economic status—feel supported by their financial institutions,” he concluded.

Rokel Commercial Bank’s 26th anniversary thus served as more than a corporate milestone—it was a reaffirmation of the bank’s commitment to inclusive growth, community development, and future-focused leadership in Sierra Leone’s evolving financial landscape.