By Abdul Rahman Bah
On Tuesday 5 September 2023 ECObank, the Pan African Bank, launched its latest service, the USSD code at its Head office, Lightfoot Boston Street, Freetown.
Kingsley Emezue, in his statement, said that the purpose of the event is the launching of the USSD code, adding that ECObank is the leading financial service provider in Sierra Leone. He stressed that ECObank is here to satisfy and make the lives of their customers easy. He disclosed that they are here to launch the USSD code, which is to simply dial * 977# for easy access of customers to their accounts, stressing that the customers need not have data on their phones to operate it.
Augustine Sankoh, Head Customer Experience, said that this is a historical experience today, as Ecobank is enhancing its digital transformation with the new service, which is the USSD code of *977#. He furthered that it is the promise they made to provide satisfaction to their customers through the introduction of digital banking services to ease the way of doing business, and this move today is in fulfilment of that promise. On behalf of customer experience they will make sure that they continue to make banking services easy and simple for their customers, which is the digital banking USSD code *977#.
Winston Williams, ED and Head CIB expressed excitement, saying that this is history in the making and a milestone, adding that the new USSD code will make easy access for customers without the need for any data in their phones and that all they need to do is to dial *977# with any kind of mobile phone and they will be able to gain access to financial services through this digital service.
Sheku Alhassan Kebe told the audience that in order to use the USSD code, customers should have phones, be it PRSP or Android or the App, All they need to do is to dial *977# with their phones using only Orange sim, and they will be able to buy their EDSA credit with the USSD code. They will also be able to transfer money from one account to another account. He added that through the USSD code, they will able to buy airtime, All they need to do is to dial *977# and this will bring them to the menu, and then select the option they want to use.
Aina Moore, the Managing Director of ECObank, in her statement, said that the USSD code is the means to speak to the market, and in using the USSD code, customers need no data to access it, nor do they need a smartphone. All they need is just to dial *977# with any Mobile phone.
The Managing Director furthered that using the USSD code makes access easy for customers and that the mobile app, which they launched last year, will also help customers access their money to buy goods and services and top up their EDSA meters with USSD Code. This service, she said will eradicate all the hassle and make life easier for customers, stressing that all they need to do is just dial *977# with their phones, and with the USSD code, customers will be able to buy goods and pay for services in other African countries “USSD code is a game changer;” she concluded.