Banking ownership in CEMAC changes

The Economic and Monetary Community of Central Africa (CEMAC) has seen a shift in banking ownership in 2025, with fewer banks primarily controlled by foreign capital. The Central African Banking Commission (COBAC) reported that by the end of 2025, there were 54 active banks in the region, down from 56 in 2024.

Foreign capital's share decreases

The number of banks mainly controlled by foreign capital dropped from 38 to 31 in one year, reducing their share of the total to 57.4% from 67.9%. Meanwhile, banks with national capital increased from 18 to 23, raising their share to 42.6% from 32.1%.

Cameroon sees major ownership shifts

In Cameroon, Société Générale sold its 58.08% stake in its local subsidiary to the government, increasing public ownership to 83.68%. Additionally, Standard Chartered sold its banking operations to Nigeria’s Access Bank, but this did not increase the number of nationally capitalized banks in CEMAC, as Access Bank is considered a foreign entity.

Mergers and takeovers in other countries

In the Democratic Republic of Congo, Société Générale Congo was merged into BGFIBank Congo, a Gabonese-origin group. In Equatorial Guinea, Vista took over Société Générale de Banques in Equatorial Guinea. These operations show different trends, and the decline in foreign-owned banks does not always mean more national control, depending on the buyer’s origin.

Banks report improved financial results

Banks in CEMAC saw improved results in 2025, with cumulative net profit reaching 524 billion CFA (896 million USD), a 16.4% increase from 2024. Net banking income rose by 12.5%, and the total balance sheet grew by 10.3%.

Persistent risks remain

Despite these gains, banks face ongoing risks, including a 10.9% rise in non-performing loans to 2244 billion CFA, or 16% of gross customer credits. Exposure to state loans and public securities also increased by 19.9%, raising concerns about the ability of new owners to maintain financial stability and manage risks effectively.