CEMAC Bank Deposits Diverge Across Member Nations
While regional deposits grew in 2025, Chad and Equatorial Guinea experienced declines in both lending and total deposits.
Updated on Oct. 30, 2026 in Financial Services
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Data from 2025 reveals that outstanding bank loans and deposits decreased in Chad and Equatorial Guinea, contrasting with broader growth across the CEMAC region. Overall private-sector deposits reached CFA14,042 billion by the end of December 2025.
Why it matters
The disparities in banking performance reflect localized economic conditions within the CEMAC monetary zone, with major growth in areas like Congo and significant deposit concentration in Cameroon.
Private-sector deposits grew 8.3% to CFA14,042 billion in 2025, with Cameroon accounting for 48% of all regional deposits. Additionally, the private sector represented 75.1% of the total gross loan volume.
The players
COBAC
The Central African Banking Commission serves as the regional regulatory and supervisory body for the banking sector in the CEMAC zone.
The details
Growth in private sector deposits was largely attributed to revenue repatriation by oil companies alongside contributions from agriculture, construction, telecommunications, and energy production. While Chad saw a drop in deposits valued at CFA31 billion and Equatorial Guinea at CFA24 billion, other CEMAC members reported aggregate increases in lending activity.
Timeline
Cameroon accounted for 46.6% of regional deposits in 2023.
Cameroon held 46.5% of all regional deposits in 2024.
Banking declines in Chad and Equatorial Guinea occurred during 2025.
Private-sector deposits reached CFA14,042 billion by December 31, 2025.
COBAC published its 2025 annual report in October 2026.
Market Landscape
This analysis of banking performance highlights the economic unevenness within the CEMAC regional banking framework. The data underscores how individual national economies diverge despite operating under the same centralized monetary system.
Fluctuations in national bank lending and deposits may signal changes in credit availability for businesses and individual consumers within the affected countries. Residents may see shifts in local loan accessibility as national financial sectors adjust to these liquidity changes.
The takeaway
Economic performance within the CEMAC zone is highly dependent on sector-specific revenues like oil and telecommunications. Readers should monitor regional regulatory updates to understand how localized banking dips may affect broader national investment climates.
Further reading
For more on banking sector trends, visit the Financial Services section.
Source note: This article includes information reported by Ecofin Agency.
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