The board of directors of the Cameroonian subsidiary of the Gabonese BGFIBank officially approved, on February 27, 2026, the increase of the bank’s share capital from 20 to 50 billion CFA francs, equivalent to a jump from 36 to 90 million US dollars. The operation comes in the context of regulatory tightening imposed on the entire banking sector of the CEMAC (Economic and Monetary Community of Central Africa).
Indeed, the Banking Commission of Central Africa (COBAC), meeting on December 10, 2025 in Libreville, adopted a historic decision: raising the minimum required share capital of all approved banks in the sub-region from 10 billion to 25 billion CFA francs, effective January 1, 2026.
Banks that are not in compliance by December 31, 2026, will have to submit a capital increase plan to the Secretary General of COBAC by June 30, 2026, under penalty of sanctions including the withdrawal of approval. With a capital now set at 50 billion CFA francs – double the new regulatory threshold – BGFIBank Cameroon not only fully complies, but also displays a rare prudential safety margin in the Cameroonian banking system, strengthening its risk absorption capacity and strategic flexibility in the market.
Financial performance
This recapitalization, which resonates as a strong signal in the Cameroonian and sub-regional banking landscape, is announced in a context of solid financial fundamentals of the bank. In its official statement, BGFIBank Cameroon announced an 18% increase in its net income for the past fiscal year, a level described as “exceptional” by the Board of Directors and described as “significantly higher than the set objectives”. This performance reflects the good performance of the bank’s activities in a constantly evolving Cameroonian market, despite inflationary pressures and regional geopolitical tensions.
According to data from the Bank of Central African States (BEAC), published in January 2026, BGFIBank Cameroon ranks 4th in the Cameroonian banking market in terms of credit offerings. Strengthening its equity will mechanically allow it to increase its risk exposure limit per client, increase its loan portfolio, and support with more ambition the large financing operations of the Cameroonian economy.
A strategic signal from the group
Beyond regulatory compliance, this decision represents a strong strategic signal from the parent company. By multiplying its capital by 2.5 in a single decision, the Cameroonian subsidiary of the group indicates in its statement that this operation “reflects the renewed confidence of the BGFIBank group in the growth potential of Cameroon and its willingness to support the ambitious development of the subsidiary”.
For the group chaired by Henri-Claude Oyima, which went public on the BVMAC (Central African Securities Exchange) at the end of 2025, Cameroon – the largest economy in the CEMAC zone – where it has been operating for fifteen years, remains a key strategic hub. With its network of 22 branches and 5 cash points spread across the 10 regions of the country, the subsidiary has a somewhat rare territorial footprint in the market.
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