Guide to Internet Banking

The following user guide gives you an overview of the Internet Banking service.

Our Internet Banking lets you bank online wherever you have access to the internet, (subject to browser requirements) when and where it suits you. From anywhere in the world, you can choose when you access your accounts, 24 X 7.

With internet banking you can:

• Check balances
• View transaction information
• View statements up to two months old
• Transfer money between your own accounts
• Purchase Bearer Bonds and Treasury Bills
• Order Cheque  book for collection at counter
• Order extended statement of account for collection at counter
• Download the following forms:
  • Personal account opening
  • SWIFT transfer
  • Internet Banking application
  • Discounted Loan & Guarantor
  • Treasury Bills Application
  • Bearer Bonds Application
• Change Password
• Effect Standing Orders
• Stop Payment of Cheques
• Contact us for other products and services.

For further general and technical assistance, please call 232-22-228078/225264. Lines are open from 9.00 am to 6.00 pm every day (except on weekends and public holidays).

You need to maintain an account with us.  Accounts can be current; savings, call, fixed deposit and can be in Leones, US Dollars, Sterling or Euro.

• To open an account please call in at your local branch or download the Account Opening Form
• Business and similar accounts must be opened in person at any of our branches.

Registration

• Send a letter to your branch manager, stating your name, account number(s) and your email address. We will get back to you via your email within 24 hours. Alternatively, you can pick up the application form at the customer services counter at your branch. Complete the Internet Banking Application form and return to the branch. We will contact you via email within 24 hours.
• You will be given an Internet Banking User ID which is normally your email address to enter, along with your security password, every time you access the service. You must then accept our Terms and Conditions. Once you have done so, you will be able to use the service.
• Please make sure you change your password after the first log in..

• Terms and Conditions
  You will need to accept our Terms and Conditions (which are in English) online when you register. You cannot enter the service without accepting these Terms and Conditions. If we change our Terms and Conditions, when you log on to the service you may be asked to re-accept them. You can view our Terms and Conditions online and print a copy, if required.

Our Internet Banking service provides a range of services for you to use and you may be able to access the following:

In the 'Summary of Accounts' section, you will see the accounts that are available for you to view or use and their balances as at a specified date and time.

From the bottom of this screen you can select the account statements to view your transaction details. A drop down box will be displayed together with two textboxes for you to enter the start and end period. Click on the drop down box to select the account transactions you wish to view and click the GO button.

• Statements
  You can view your previous statements up to two months old by selecting from the dates displayed. At the moment, it is not possible to download these transactions in to a financial management package, or on to a spreadsheet.

• Transfer within own Accounts
  As long as you have the funds available in your selected accounts you can transfer between your accounts with us.. However, the following rules apply:
  • The balance in your Savings account must not fall below Le50,000
  • Our business hours are 9.00 am to 3.00 pm every Monday to Friday except on public holidays. You can make a transfer any time during the day and the transfer will be taken from your account at the same business day you send the instruction. If the transfer is received after business hours, it will be effected on the next business day.
  • You cannot transfer from a business /joint to your personal account.
  • You cannot transfer from a Leone account to a Foreign Currency Account.

· Change my password
You can change your password by selecting on Change Password from the menu. Enter the old password, enter the new password, confirm the new password and click OK. When the message displays that your password has been successfully changed, close and go to HOME.

Click on Online Forms from the menu to view products and services that you are eligible to apply for online. You can also download forms from our Services page.

Treasury Bearer Bonds/Treasury Bills

• Click online Forms from the Menu
• Click on Treasury Bills Applications; a form will be displayed on the screen
• Enter the amount, rate/discount, account to be debited, interest account (if TBB is applied for). select whether to reinvest at maturity and click submit.
• A message will be displayed at the bottom to indicate that the message has been sent.
• Your account will be debited on the same day if there is a market day or on the next market day.

• Chequebook Ordering
   
• Click online Forms from the Menu
• Click Chequebook
• Enter the number of leaves required, number of chequebooks, size and account to be debited..
• Click the submit button when done.
• A message will be displayed at the bottom to indicate that the message has been sent.
• Your chequebook will be ready in 3 days for collection at the counter. Your account will also be debited for the cost of the chequebook.
   
• Statement Ordering
   
• Click online Forms from the Menu
• Click Statement
• Enter the start and end period, account number of required, statement.
• Click the submit button when done.
• A message will be displayed at the bottom to indicate that the message has been sent.
• Your statement will be ready by the next business day for collection at the counter.
   

The service meets industry standards of security. In addition to strong data encryption where any information is scrambled, you will need to input your complete email address and your password whenever you access the service.

When you type in the password, symbols will appear to disguise your number from anyone who may be in the room with you. Make sure you never reveal your password to anyone. We strongly recommend that you do not record your password details on your web browser.

The Internet Banking service has timed log-outs, which means that Internet Banking sessions end after 10 minutes of inactivity. This helps to protect you against unauthorised access. Please ensure you have logged off properly at the end of every Internet Banking session by using the log off option on the left-hand tool bar.

If you think someone knows your security number you should contact us immediately and ask for your password to be reset.

Please refer to the section in the Terms and Conditions for full details of your security duties in relation to the Internet Banking service.

The service is currently free. Online time is charged in accordance with your Internet Service Provider's tariff.

Please note that your personal and sole trader business accounts can be using the same ID and password. However, where two or more signatories are attached to an account, we would require an authority specifying that one party can access the account. We must also be notified immediately when there is a change of signatories or personnel with access rights to your business accounts.

In addition, separate applications for Internet Banking will also be needed for each sole trader business.

Browser Requirements
Our Internet Banking service supports most browsers. However, as new browser versions are introduced, the software manufacturer (e.g., Microsoft, Netscape) may no longer maintain old versions. This may result in difficulties accessing Internet Banking using older browsers. Potentially, difficulties may also be experienced with new browsers that have not yet been tested to ensure compatibility with our service.

Scheduled maintenance periods
The bank undertakes essential system maintenance each week. Internet Banking may not be available when maintenance is in progress.  

Please note all numbers quoted in this User Guide may be monitored or recorded for quality purposes.

If you need to write to us about the Internet Banking service, please send your letter to:

Sierra Leone Commercial Bank Ltd
Customer Care
29/31 Siaka Stevens Street
Freetown , Sierra Leone

OR

Email us at: slcb@slcb.biz,   slcb@sierratel.sl 

Examples of accounts that are not currently available to Internet Banking are:

• Clients accounts
• Clubs/Societies
• Accounts operated by Power of Attorney (except to the account holder)
• Accounts operated by Third Party mandate (except to the account holder)
• Trustee accounts
• Accounts held with banks other than Sierra Leone Commercial Bank Ltd.

If you access the Internet Banking service from outside Sierra Leone, we cannot guarantee that the service, or our website(s) which you use to access it, will comply with the laws of the place where you are accessing the service from.

THANK YOU VERY MUCH FOR DOING BUSINESS WITH US