Privacy Policy

This privacy policy regulates how personal information can be used by United Bank for Africa (UBA) Sierra Leone.

The Privacy Policy

This Privacy Policy regulates how United Bank for Africa Plc (Sierra Leone) (“UBA” or “the Bank”) can process the personal information of its customers.  

In line with the provisions of the General Data Protection Regulation (GDPR) of the European Union, and other applicable Data Privacy laws and regulations, UBA maintains the following privacy principles, which govern how we collect, use, record, organize, structure, store, adapt or alter, retrieve, consult, disclose, disseminate, align, combine, restrict, erase or destroy and generally manage your personal data (“processing” or “process” of your Personal Data”). 

Personal Data under this privacy policy is as defined by the General Data Protection Regulation (GDPR) of the European Union, and the National Data Protection Authorities (DPA), which is the body empowered to make regulations or directives prescribing categories of sensitive personal data, further grounds for processing same, and the safeguards that must apply.

Basis for collecting and processing Personal Data by the Bank

The Bank processes your personal data relying on any of the following legal grounds:

  • Where your Consent as the Data Subject has been obtained.
  • Offering banking and allied services to the Data Subject.
  • Offer of employment to the Data Subject, where the processing of your personal data is necessary for the performance of a contract to which you are a party.
  • For compliance with a legal obligation to which the data controller is subject.
  • Where it is necessary to protect the vital interests of a person in line with Data Privacy regulations.
  • Where it is necessary for the performance of a task carried out in the public interest.
  • Where it is in the legitimate interests of the Bank (except where the interests or rights and freedoms of the data subject override those interests)

Collection of Personal Information

UBA Plc (Sierra Leone) is a financial institution with an international banking license issued Bank of Sierra Leone. Its Head office is situated at 1853 Avenue Liberation, 9/15 Charlotte Street, Freetown, Sierra Leone, and it has a business presence in 19 African countries, including New York, the United Kingdom, France, and the UAE. 

As a responsible business, UBA is committed to complying with the relevant applicable data protection regulations when processing your personal data. 

The GDPR give you certain rights regarding our use of your personal data, including the right to: 

  • Request access to the personal data we have collected about you to review, modify, or request deletion of your Personal Data.
  • Request a copy of the Personal Data we have collected about you and correct any inaccuracies.
  • Request that we cease processing your Personal Data.
  • Lodge with a competent Data Protection Authority.
  • Request for your personal data to be transferred to another organisation in a commonly used and machine-readable format.

Note that some laws or our requirement to comply with a Legal obligation to which the Bank is subject to may prevent us from providing access to your personal data or fully complying with your request, depending upon the circumstances and the request. For example, producing your information may reveal another person’s identity.

Thus, kindly note that we reserve the right to charge an appropriate fee for complying with your request where applicable law allows and/or deny your requests where they may be manifestly unfounded, excessive, or otherwise objectionable or unwarranted under applicable law. 

What do we need?

UBA will be known as the “controller” and “processor” of the personal data you provide to us.

  • We may collect your information from our website visits, applications and channels, identification documents, curriculum vitae, personal financial statements, interactions with relationship managers, and other third parties.
  • We collect and use the personal information you provide to us as part of our banking services (e.g., Name, Address, nationality, email, Phone number, ID Number, Bank Verification Number (BVN), and family-related information).
  • We collect and use biometric information (e.g., Fingerprint – BVN verification used on our ATMs, POS, and other channels), IP address, device information, and location.
  • We use financial information such as account balance, transaction history, and debit/credit card usage to provide you with banking services.
  • We may also use information about any other UBA products and services you currently have, have applied for, or have previously held.
  • We may also collect visual images and video footage when you visit our premises and ATMs and telephone conversations when you call any of our contact centre lines.
  • We also collect data from prospective employees as part of our recruitment processes.
  • We may also process sensitive personal information for specific and limited purposes, such as detecting and preventing financial crime or making our services accessible to customers. We will only process sensitive personal information where we have obtained your explicit consent or, where applicable, compliance with a legal obligation or for legal proceedings/advice.
  • We collect this information to ensure you transact with us seamlessly and securely.

Please note that UBA will NEVER ask for personal banking information such as card details (CVV), PIN, Password, Secure Passcode, or Token number.

Why do we need it?

We require your basic personal data to provide you with the banking services you have engaged us for based on the requirements of the respective Central banks and/or governmental regulations, which align with the applicable Data Privacy regulations and our Data Privacy Framework/Policy.

What do we do with it?

We collect, store, and process some of your personal data as required by law to enable you to obtain banking services through us.

All the personal data that the Bank collects from you will be held and processed securely by our Facilities at Freetown Headquarters or any of our subsidiaries and/or authorized service providers (third parties), where applicable. Your data will be confidential unless required by a Legal or regulatory requirement for the Banking services or where there is a legal basis for the processing of your processing of your personal data.

We will take all reasonable actions to ensure that the personal data of all customers and employees are handled securely and in a controlled manner. The Bank complies with the latest Information security standards such as PCI-DSS, ISO/IEC 27001:2022, etc.

How long do we keep it?

As a regulated financial services institution, we will retain your personal data as may be required by regulation in the country under consideration, after which it will be disposed of as required under the respective Government laws and Banking regulations.

Please note that regulations may require the Bank to retain your personal data for a specified period, even after the end of your banking relationship with us.

Sharing of Personal Data

Personal data may be shared with third parties and service providers to deliver our services to you in accordance with the General Data Protection Regulation (GDPR), and any applicable Data Protection Laws. 

In addition, we may disclose your personal data:

  • If we are required to do so by law or legal process.
  • To law enforcement authorities or other government officials.
  • When we believe disclosure is necessary or appropriate to prevent physical harm or financial loss or in connection with an investigation of suspected or actual illegal activity.
  • If disclosure is necessary to protect the vital interests of a person.
  • To enforce our Terms and Conditions.
  • To protect our property, services, and legal rights.
  • To support auditing, compliance, and corporate governance functions; or
  • To comply with any applicable laws.

Data Security

At UBA, security is our top priority, and we always strive to ensure that your personal data is protected against unauthorized or accidental access. We maintain this commitment to data security by implementing appropriate physical, electronic, and managerial measures to safeguard and secure your personal data with us.

Our web servers are protected behind “firewalls”, and our systems are monitored to prevent unauthorized access. We will not send confidential information to you by ordinary email, as the security of ordinary email cannot be guaranteed.

All practical steps shall be taken to ensure that personal data will not be kept longer than necessary and that the Bank will comply with all statutory and regulatory requirements concerning the retention of personally identifiable information.

Our commitment to Data Security is paramount to us at UBA. Your personal data is kept secure in line with applicable Data Protection Regulations. Only our authorized staff, agents, and contractors (who have agreed to keep information secure and confidential) have access to this information.

Shared Responsibilities

UBA and its customers shall play an important role in protecting against online fraud. You should be careful that your bank account details, including your User ID and Password, are not compromised by ensuring you do not knowingly or accidentally share, provide, or facilitate unauthorized use. Please do not share your User ID and password or allow others to access or use them. UBA endeavors to put high-security standards in place to protect your interests.

You should safeguard your unique User ID and Password by keeping them secret and confidential. Never write them down or share these details with anyone.

You are responsible for informing us immediately if you think your User ID and password have been disclosed to a third party, are lost or stolen, and unauthorized transactions may have been conducted on your account.

Where you share the personal data of third parties with us, including your directors, officers, and authorized signatories (Data Subjects), you are responsible for and warrant that you shall obtain their written consent for the processing and transfer of their personal data for the purpose of your contract with us and the provision of banking services to you.

The consent of the parent or legal guardian of a child is mandatory. Age verification and consent are also required. This can be done using technology and Government identification documents.

Exemptions include the vital interest of a child, proceedings in court, education, medical or social care undertaken by a professional owing a duty of confidentiality.

Remedies for personal data violation

If your personal data is violated at any time, you can contact the Bank’s Data Protection Officer (DPO) at dataprotectionoffice@ubagroup.com.

  • Within a reasonable timeframe of UBA receiving a complaint, UBA shall notify the Individual in line with data privacy requirements of either,
    (i) UBA’s position concerning the complaint and any action UBA has taken or will take in response; or,
    (ii) When the individual will be informed of UBA’s position on the complaint in accordance with data privacy requirements
  • Remedies shall include but are not limited to investigating and reporting to appropriate authorities, recovering the personal data, correcting it and enhancing controls around it.

Cross Border Transfer

Given the scope of our banking operations, we may process data in multiple locations and rely on legally provided mechanisms to lawfully transfer data across borders. In such cases:

  • UBA shall not transfer your personal data to a foreign country or international organisation in contravention of the General Data Protection Regulation and other applicable Data Protection Laws.
  • Please contact us if you want to know more about our Data Privacy policy and withdraw some or all of your consent. We will be more than glad to help you in accordance with the regulations.

Changes to Privacy Policy

We review this Privacy Policy regularly and reserve the right to make changes at any time to reflect changes in our business and legal requirements. We will post updates on our website (www.ubasierraleone.com).

Privacy Contact Information

If you have any questions, concerns, or comments about our privacy policy, you may contact us using the information below:

You may also engage the supervisory authority National Data Protection Authorities (DPA). if you wish to complain about how UBA handles or has handled your personal data or have concerns about how your complaint has been handled.