Sub-Saharan Africa is a region that faces many challenges in terms of economic development and the banking of its population. In countries such as the Democratic Republic of Congo, financial exclusion is particularly worrying, which makes it essential to mobilize players in the banking sector, such as BGFIBank DRC, to convince populations of the advantages of banking and its direct impact on the country’s development.
Banking exclusion constitutes a major obstacle to the economic development of the DRC. Despite the presence of eleven banking establishments, such as Crédit du Congo (CDC), Ecobank, BSCA (Sino-Congolese Bank for Africa) and BGFI, the banking rate remains low, with only 13% of the Congolese population having access to banking services. However, the remaining 87% are not deprived of financial resources, but they cannot or do not wish to engage with banks. It is therefore essential to find innovative ways to develop the physical network and facilitate access to the banking system.
To overcome constraints related to limited infrastructure and technical problems, Congolese banks can learn from the models of their West African neighbors. For example, Societe Generale Senegal uses agents traveling on motorcycles to meet customers, while Coris Bank has set up a mobile branch installed on board a truck to reach populations in Burkina Faso. These initiatives make it possible to develop the physical network and to contact potential customers.
However, banks cannot rely solely on their physical network. They must also exploit the opportunities offered by information and communication technologies (ICT) and mobile telephony to facilitate access to banking services. Thus, many Congolese banks have developed mobile applications that allow customers to manage their bank account remotely and perform basic transactions. Some, like BGFIBank RDC, even offer the possibility of opening an account entirely online, in just a few clicks. With nearly 50% of the population owning a smartphone, it is clear that most Congolese already have access to banking services via their phone, but mistrust or lack of interest is still present. It is therefore up to the banks to convince the population of the advantages they can offer them.
The crucial question for banks is therefore to demonstrate their usefulness and to convince people excluded from the banking system. Some banks have set up mixed tools, such as networks of banking intermediaries or salary cards, to facilitate access to banking services for individuals in the informal sector.. For example, Société Générale Senegal has set up the “Manko” network which offers entrepreneurs in the informal sector financial tools adapted to their needs, while BGFI Bank RDC offers a salary card which allows companies to give their employees secure access to their salary, whether in the form of a debit card for banked employees or a prepaid card for those who do not have a bank account.
These tools are designed to encourage individuals excluded from the banking system to join the formal sector of the economy. The objective is to promote the gradual integration of the informal sector into the legal banking system, by offering appropriate services and gaining the confidence of the populations concerned.
In conclusion, the banking of the population in sub-Saharan Africa, and more particularly in the DRC, represents a major challenge for economic development. Banks must find innovative solutions to facilitate access to banking services, by developing both their physical network and their ICT-based offers. Moreover, they must convince populations excluded from the banking system of the advantages they have to offer