RCB, Gilpin Sweep Top Awards

By: Yusuf Ibrahim Kamara

Rokel Commercial Bank (RCB) continues to reinforce its standing as a pillar of Sierra Leone’s financial and social landscape, receiving multiple awards for exceptional banking services, community empowerment, and visionary leadership.

On Wednesday, July 30, 2025, the bank was honored with three major awards from respected institutions, celebrating its performance over the 2024–2025 period. The National Union of Civil Society Organizations (NUCSO) presented RCB with a Certificate of Merit, naming it the “Best Bank in Sierra Leone” in recognition of its operational integrity and consistent excellence in service delivery.

RCB’s Managing Director, Dr. Walton Ekundayo Gilpin, was also awarded by NUCSO as the “Best Managing Director & CEO” in Sierra Leone’s banking industry for 2024–2025. The Union credited his “transformational leadership” for reshaping the bank into a trusted, forward-thinking institution that has maintained a positive national footprint.

In its citation, NUCSO noted, “Rokel Commercial Bank, under Dr. Gilpin, exemplifies what strong leadership and institutional integrity can achieve. Their efforts continue to set high standards for the entire banking industry.”

The bank’s community impact was further recognized by ICBAI Sierra Leone Spelling Bee, which awarded RCB a Certificate of Recognition for its strategic support to youth and education. The award particularly cited RCB’s sponsorship of the 8th Annual Valentine’s Spelling Bee 2025, themed “No Child Left Behind,” and its past contributions that include financing a 2019 trip to Uganda for 60 students and supporting Isa Yeama Lucy Lawrson’s historic rise to African spelling champion in 2024.

Speaking at the awards event, Lawrson paid tribute to RCB and Dr. Gilpin for their unwavering support. “Your leadership and generosity have created opportunities for many of us. You have not only empowered me but inspired a generation,” she stated.

ICBAI, the Initiative in Capacity Building Association International, has been instrumental in advancing human rights education, ICT training, and youth and women empowerment programs since its founding in 2006.

RCB also earned recognition from the entertainment and women empowerment sector. Ladies FEST a female-led initiative founded by Sierra Leonean music star Star Zee and Doz-Kabaal Multimedia Company presented a certificate of appreciation to the bank for its invaluable support of the inaugural Star Zee Ladies Fest 2025.

Receiving the multiple honors, Dr. Gilpin expressed deep gratitude and reflected on the bank’s mission. “These awards affirm that we are not just delivering financial services we are driving real impact,” he said. “Since 2017, we’ve focused on transformation, innovation, and inclusion. Today, Rokel is a symbol of what is possible when Sierra Leoneans lead with purpose.”

He reaffirmed RCB’s continued commitment to empowering youth and fostering national development, stressing the value of investing in future leaders. “When you support children, you’re investing in the country’s future. That’s the heart of nation-building,” he added.

The event also recognized the work of the bank’s Public Relations Department, particularly highlighting the efforts of PRO Aruna Dumbuya for effectively championing RCB’s brand and outreach. His team was praised for helping shape the bank’s public image and national influence.

With this latest round of honors, Rokel Commercial Bank further cements its reputation as a leader not only in banking but in community development, youth empowerment, and corporate ethics. The awards serve as a testament to the bank’s broader vision of social transformation through financial inclusion.

As Dr. Gilpin concluded in his remarks, “We are not only delivering banking solutions we are building legacies. These recognitions show that excellence is alive in Sierra Leone. And as a bank, we will keep raising the bar.”