Banking Sector: Coris Bank and Ecobank Now Share First in West Africa
Driven by a 14.3% year-on-year expansion, the West African financial institution now captures 8.6% of the market share in the monetary zone, joining Ecobank at the top regional rank. Official data published by the Banking Commission set the group's asset base at 7,099 billion FCFA at the close of the 2025 fiscal year, up from 6,213 billion FCFA a year earlier, following the zone's growth pace of 14.1%.
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Embedded in a phase of retrenchment on the continent, Société Générale cedes second place as its share of the total balance sheet declines from 8.6% to 7%, following the divestment of its Burkina Faso subsidiary to Vista Group. The Burkina Faso entity strengthens its profitability indicators by generating 9.2% of the sector's global earnings, while controlling 5.6% of branches and 5.9% of ATMs in the zone. Reinforced by the takeover of Standard Chartered's retail clientele in Côte d'Ivoire, the Abidjan subsidiary reports a balance sheet of 1,324 billion FCFA, up 23.7%, while growth exceeds 20% in Senegal and 22.3% in Niger.
With a successful equity raise of 100 million euros from international lenders in October 2025, the external growth strategy now aims for accelerated deployment in Central Africa, notably in Cameroon, Gabon, and the Central African Republic. The acquisition of the Chad and Cape Verde entities prepares an ambitious redeployment in the face of modest presence by Central African players such as BGFIBank (2.2% of assets), Afriland First Group (0.4%), and BANGE (0.1%).
The restructuring of the monetary sector consecrates the rise of endogenous banking champions. To this effect, the injection of fresh liquidity will enable the group to consolidate its financial foundations to accelerate branch openings in the neighboring sub-region.
Nlend Flore
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