CAMEROON : Bange Bank Plans to Open Six New Branches in 2026
La voix des entreprises 
(LVDE) – This decision by the Cameroonian subsidiary of the Equatorial Guinean bank Bange Bank aims to strengthen its proximity to customers and expand its presence in several major cities across the country. The strategy comes at a time when the bank is gradually growing its operations while facing increasing competition within Cameroon’s banking sector.
Present on the Cameroonian market since 2021, the local subsidiary, Bange Bank Cameroun, intends to take a new step in its commercial development. The financial institution has announced plans to open six new branches nationwide during 2026 as part of the implementation of its expansion program.
According to information released by the bank’s management, two branches will be established in Douala, the country’s main economic hub. Another branch is scheduled to open in Yaoundé, the political capital, while the remaining outlets will be set up in Bafoussam and Garoua. Through this expansion strategy, the bank aims to strengthen its territorial coverage and move closer to economic operators, particularly in areas with strong commercial potential.
These new locations will reinforce a network that already includes nine branches spread across several cities in the country, notably in Douala and Yaoundé, as well as in Kribi, Sangmélima and Kye-Ossi. In the longer term, the bank aims to expand its network to 15 branches by 2027, a move expected to support the growth of its customer base and broaden its range of activities.
This expansion drive comes after a period of financial consolidation for the bank. The institution recorded cumulative losses estimated at around CFA 10.2 billion between 2022 and 2023, corresponding to its early years of operation in the Cameroonian market. However, the results recorded in 2024 indicate a notable improvement in its financial position.
Banking sector data show that the bank’s total balance sheet reached nearly CFA 67.2 billion in 2024, representing a 58.6% increase year-on-year. At the same time, deposits experienced particularly strong growth, reaching CFA 37.8 billion, up by more than 116% compared with the previous year. A large share of these resources, however, comes from demand deposits, which can be more sensitive to fluctuations.
Regarding financing activities, the bank’s outstanding loan portfolio stood at approximately CFA 53.5 billion in 2024. This volume represents nearly 0.88% of the national banking market, placing the institution 14th in this segment. With a deposit-to-loan transformation ratio estimated at 93.5%, the bank records one of the highest levels in the sector, reflecting strong mobilization of collected resources to support lending activities.
The most notable progress concerns support for small and medium-sized enterprises. Between 2023 and 2024, loans granted to SMEs rose from around CFA 1.6 billion to CFA 6.6 billion, representing an increase of nearly 100%. This strategic focus on financing the local entrepreneurial ecosystem earned the bank the award for the institution that most supported SMEs, during a distinction presented in February 2026 in Douala by L’Economie Media Group.
Despite these encouraging performances, certain challenges remain. The bank’s credit portfolio is still largely concentrated on medium-term financing, with relatively limited exposure to long-term projects. According to industry analysts, diversifying the maturity structure of financing could become an important lever for strengthening the institution’s profitability and stability in the coming years.
In a Cameroonian banking sector that includes more than fifteen institutions, this expansion strategy appears to be a way for Bange Bank to consolidate its position and gradually increase its market share while strengthening its role in financing the local economy.
Tressy Chouente
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