By PASCAL TEMPLE :
Three Sierra Leoneans currently residing in the United States with major investments in Sierra Leone and partnering with HFC Mortgage & Savings (SL) Limited have heaped praises on the management and team for their expertise in making it easy for them to own a House, invest in housing estate and setting a Foreign and local currency accounts in Sierra Leone.
Speaking at a Town Hall Meeting Chaired by Ambassador Bockari Kortu Stevens on Saturday 10th October 2015 at 520 Randolph Road Maryland, Ms. Milly Terry described HFC Mortgage & Savings (SL) Limited as a very credible institution that is partially funding a Housing estate at Gloucester village in the Mountain rural district of Sierra Leone. “My Nigerian business partner and I filled our application form, submitted it with supporting documents and collateral. “ We allowed our application to go through the process. After three weeks we were invited for a meeting, followed by an approval. As I speak, the project is on course.
According to Mr. &Mrs. Freeman who have lived in the United States for over twenty years, “we applied for a loan from HFC Mortgage & Savings (SL) Limited while here. “ We got our loan amounting to One Hundred and Twenty Thousand United States Dollars ($120.000) and our Town house is near completion.
According to Mrs. Freeman, they applied from the United States of America over five years ago, and Saturday 10th October was the first time they met in person with some members of the Mortgage Company. “We only talked on the phone and exchange e-mails and letters.” Contrary to any pre conceived notion, we are here to testify about an institution, whose management team we are meeting for the very first time, after we have received more than tens of thousands of US Dollars from them.
Hassan Kamara a Sierra Leonean businessman residing in the USA said he has two accounts in local and foreign currencies. According to him. HFC Mortgage and Savings (SL) Limited is one of the best financial institution in Sierra Leone.
In his introduction, Mr. Ahmed Bakarr Kamara Managing Director of HFC Mortgage & Savings (SL) Limited said the Company is 98% owned by NASSIT: and is committed to customer satisfaction, enhanced shareholder value and maintenance of a dedicated, highly skilled and motivated human capital, through the establishment of a sustainable UNIVERSAL Bank”.
He said HFC Home Purchase Mortgage is designed to assist individuals and companies to purchase residential properties for their own use or for investment purposes.
According to him, the maximum loan amount is USD$120,000 or its equivalent in our local currency “Leone.”
Mr. Kamara said the maximum term for this facility is 20 years for both Flexible repayment loans and standard conventional reducing balance loans for resident Sierra Leoneans and 10 years for Non-resident Sierra Leoneans. “Applicant/s must be between the ages 18-60 years and must provide proof of employment and income. Applicant/s must provide two satisfactory proofs of ID and address, Must have good credit history and should qualify for a loan exceeding the price of the house and must be qualified to own property in Sierra Leone.
The Managing Director said, HFC Mortgage and Savings is committed to customer satisfaction, enhanced shareholder value and maintenance of a dedicated, highly skilled and motivated human capital, through the establishment of a sustainable UNIVERSAL Bank”
He therefore encouraged Sierra Leoneans to acquire their own homes through the HFC Mortgage & Savings (SL) Limited.
In his Contribution Mr. Yusuf Abdul Silla Director Credit Management made reference to some West Africans and in particular Ghana, whose citizens built several houses in their countries with the help of mortgage companies, while working overseas. He said members of the diaspora returned home with ease, because they had invested in modern houses during the period of toil.
He assured Sierra Leoneans of impartiality and said we need customers, so we make the process simple and workable.
Earlier, Mr. Amara Kuyateh Deputy Director General NASSIT said the National Social Security and Insurance Trust is a Statutory Public Trust set up by the National Social Security and Insurance Trust Act. No. 5 of 2001 to administer the Sierra Leone’s National Pension’s Scheme.
The Trust was established to provide retirement and other benefits to meet the contingency needs for workers and their dependents.
According to him, the core functions of the Trust are: Registration of employers and employees
Collection and recording of contributions, maintenance of records on contributions and insured earnings, Compliance and enforcement procedures, the reception and assessment of benefits claims and the calculation and payment of benefits
“We are committed to developing and delivering a high standard of service that adds value and significantly contributes to the achievement of the Trust’s strategic objectives and those of our internal and external customers. Said Mr. Kuyateh: adding, “a critical success factor for the Trust is to recruit, improve, maintain and enhance the ability of our people to render excellent service to our customers.”
Questions including status of NASSIT contributors living abroad from the audience and answers from other members of the delegation formed the highlight of the meeting.
The next meeting will take place in Georgia Atlanta on 17th October 2015at St. Philip Benezi Catholic Church, 591 Flint River Rd, Jonesboro, Georgia 30328.
