Sub-Saharan Africa faces several challenges in terms of economic development and the banking of its population. Among the countries concerned is Congo-Kinshasa, where financial exclusion is particularly worrying. However, players in the banking sector, such as BGFIBank DRC, seek to convince people of the importance of banking for the country’s development.
Despite the presence of eleven banks on the Congolese market, including renowned institutions such as Crédit du Congo, Ecobank and BGFIBank, the banking rate remains very low, with only 13% of the population having access to banking services. The remaining 87% are not without financial resources, but do not turn to banks, either for lack of access or lack of interest. It is therefore up to the banks to find solutions to attract these populations and offer them services adapted to their needs.
To facilitate access to the banking system, Congolese banks must develop their physical network in an innovative way. They can be inspired by the practices of neighboring countries, such as the deployment of agents circulating on motorcycles by Société Générale Senegal, or the use of a mobile agency installed on board a truck by Coris Bank in Burkina Faso. However, given the problems related to infrastructure, climatic conditions and political instability in some remote areas, banks must also invest in digital solutions based on mobile telephony and information and communication technologies.
Thus, many Congolese banks now offer mobile applications allowing customers to manage their bank accounts remotely and carry out day-to-day transactions. Some, like BGFIBank RDC, even offer the possibility of opening an account entirely online. This digital approach is all the more relevant since nearly 50% of Congolese have a smartphone, compared to only 13% who are banked. It therefore appears that financial exclusion is more linked to mistrust or lack of interest in banks than to a real problem of access.
The real challenge for banks therefore lies in their ability to convince people of the usefulness of banking. To do this, some have developed mixed tools, such as the network of banking intermediaries “Manko” of Société Générale Senegal, or the salary card offered by BGFI Bank RDC. These initiatives aim to facilitate access to banking services for workers in the informal sector, who represent an important part of the Congolese economy. The objective is to gradually integrate this informal sector into the formal banking system, offering services adapted to their needs and encouraging them to join the banking system..
In conclusion, the banking of the population in sub-Saharan Africa, and in particular in Congo-Kinshasa, represents a major challenge for the economic development of the region. Banks must seek innovative solutions to facilitate access to banking services, whether by developing their physical network or by exploiting digital technologies. In addition, they must convince people of the importance of banking and its advantages for their personal and economic development