By Ishmael Sallieu Koroma
First Lady Fatima Maada Bio has officially launched Flot, a Sierra Leonean financial technology platform offering digital payments, international card services and travel solutions, in a move aimed at expanding access to modern financial services.
The platform was unveiled at the Country Lodge Hotel in Freetown before government officials, business leaders, financial institutions, technology partners and other stakeholders.
Speaking at the launch, First Lady Fatima Bio described the initiative as a practical step toward improving access to financial and travel services for Sierra Leoneans, particularly those doing business or travelling abroad.
“This milestone represents a practical step forward in expanding access to modern banking online systems, travel, and financial support right here at home, making the journey easier for everyone who does business or travels abroad,” she said.
The First Lady congratulated the company’s leadership and staff for bringing the project to market, saying locally developed initiatives could create opportunities and strengthen domestic capacity.
“I want to extend my sincere congratulations to the CEO and the entire FLOT team for bringing this vision to reality,” she said. “Initiatives like this create new opportunities and build local capacity, and I look forward to seeing the positive impact this service will bring to travellers across Sierra Leone.”
A Sierra Leonean Platform With Global Reach
Flot is operated by Open Hubb SL Limited, a Freetown-based company. Its platform combines digital wallets, payments, cards, travel booking and business financial services, with transactions also accessible through WhatsApp.
According to information published by Flot, its wallets support both the Sierra Leonean leone and the US dollar. Customers can fund wallets through linked bank accounts, mobile money and debit or credit cards.
The company lists Orange Money and Afrimoney among the mobile-money services supported by its platform. Users can also make transfers, purchase airtime, pay electricity bills and review transactions through its digital services.
Flot lists Zenith Bank and Sky Bank among its banking partners, while Visa and Mastercard are identified as card-network partners. Its card portfolio includes Virtual, Mint, Gold and Ultra Black options, subject to applicable eligibility requirements and approvals.
The travel component allows customers to search, compare and book flights while using the same ecosystem for payments and other financial services. For Sierra Leoneans travelling for business, education or family commitments, the model is designed to bring several services under one platform.
President Bio Receives Card No. 001
The launch followed an earlier presentation at State House where President Julius Maada Bio received Flot Ultra Black Card No. 001.
The card, issued in partnership with Zenith Bank Sierra Leone, gave the rollout a high-profile start ahead of the formal launch in Freetown.
For businesses and frequent travellers, wider access to internationally accepted payment cards could provide another option for conducting transactions abroad and reduce dependence on physical foreign currency.
The launch also comes as digital financial services continue to reshape how Sierra Leoneans send money, make payments and conduct business. Mobile money has already become an important part of everyday commerce, while fintech companies are increasingly looking to connect local consumers with broader regional and international financial networks.
Beyond Cards and Travel
Flot is positioning itself as more than an international card provider. Its wider platform covers personal finance, business payments, travel and digital transactions.
For businesses, the company offers services including corporate wallets, team cards, collections, approvals and financial reporting. The combination could appeal particularly to companies that need to manage payments and expenses across different markets.
Flot says its operations fall within Sierra Leone’s financial-services framework, including the National Payment Systems Act 2022, with individual products subject to applicable regulatory requirements and approvals.
As with any new financial platform, its long-term success will depend on more than the excitement surrounding its launch. Reliability, security, affordability, customer service and the ability to build public confidence will be critical as the company seeks to expand.
Accessibility beyond Freetown will also matter. For Flot to make a broader contribution to financial inclusion, its services will need to reach customers in communities where access to conventional banking remains limited.
Building Sierra Leonean Capacity
The emergence of Flot adds another dimension to Sierra Leone’s growing digital economy and raises the profile of locally driven solutions to challenges in payments, banking and international travel.
For First Lady Fatima Bio, the launch was also an opportunity to highlight the importance of supporting initiatives that build local capacity while connecting Sierra Leoneans to opportunities beyond the country’s borders.
Her endorsement placed particular emphasis on the practical benefits the platform could bring to travellers and businesses rather than technology for its own sake.
The challenge for Flot now is to turn a high-profile launch into widespread and sustained use. Its ability to deliver secure, affordable and dependable services will determine how significant a place it eventually occupies in Sierra Leone’s evolving financial landscape.
With President Bio receiving Card No. 001 and First Lady Fatima Bio leading the formal launch, Flot has entered the market with considerable visibility. What comes next will determine whether the platform can translate that attention into lasting value for Sierra Leonean consumers, businesses and travellers.
