The Gabonese President, accompanied by Lucas Abaga Nchama, Governor of the Bank of Central African States (BEAC), inaugurated the new head office of the Central African Banking Commission (COBAC) entrusted with the control and independent supervision of the banking and financial system of the six CEMAC countries: Cameroon, Central African Republic, Congo, Gabon, Equatorial Guinea and Chad.
The Gabonese President, accompanied by Lucas Abaga Nchama, Governor of the Bank of Central African States (BEAC), inaugurated the new head office of the Central African Banking
Commission (COBAC) entrusted with the control and independent supervision of the banking and financial system of the six CEMAC countries: Cameroon, Central African Republic, Congo, Gabon, Equatorial Guinea and Chad.
According to AFP, the BEAC governor, who is also COBAC Chairman was pleased with the results of the Commission, announcing that between 1993, when the banks in business registered « a cash shortage of e 125 million Euros », and the end of April 2011, their « surplus cash reached 4.5 billion Euros ».
A recent COBAC study gives some indication about the pricing of CEMAC banking services and operations : « The average interest rates applied to major companies, SMEs and individuals are respectively 8.74%, 11.55% and 15.69%.
Gabon and Cameroon stand out as countries with the most pronounced banking intermediation with respectively 34.5% and 30% of depreciable loans granted during this period.
In Gabon, for example, 74.5% of loans are provided by BGFI Bank.
In Cameroon, BICEC and Afriland granted loans representing respectively 30.53% and 24.96%.
In Equatorial Guinea, CCEIBANK accounts for 76% of loans.
With respect to depreciable loans, Equato-Guinean banks register the highest intermediation margin of 11.66% due to the low funding cost set at 0.49% and an average high proportional interest rate, while Gabon has the lowest margin (7.8%) with the lowest proportional interest rate of CEMAC countries »
Proportional interest rate (2010)
Breakdown of loans per country (in CFA) in 2010