Fin'ELLE

What Fin'ELLE does

Fin'Elle is a Côte d'Ivoire-based mesofinance institution that provides credit, savings, insurance, and digital banking services exclusively to women entrepreneurs and their enterprises. Operating as a wholly-owned subsidiary of Groupe COFINA — the first pan-African mesofinance institution — Fin'Elle was established in 2018 through the acquisition of MIMOYE FINANCE and rebranded in September 2020 under the tagline "La Finance pour Elle." The institution serves approximately 38,000+ customers through 5 physical branches in Côte d'Ivoire, a mobile collector network (BLE BLE collectrices), a web/mobile application (FIN'Elle Mobile), and a WhatsApp Banking service (Miss FINA), with 200+ employees and ~46 billion FCFA in credit outstanding.

The product portfolio spans the full mesofinance spectrum: savings products (Epargne Libre at 3.5%, Livret Jeune at 4.5%, DAT term deposits, BLE BLE mobile-collector savings); a broad credit suite including consumer credit (up to 5M FCFA), SME investment credit (up to 380M FCFA at 1.5% monthly declining), FIN'Express rapid-disbursement loans (500K–30M FCFA, 9% flat commission), and sector-specific products for agriculture (Agri Cash, Agri Transport, Agri Equipement) and supply chain financing; bundled savings account packages (Pack Individu'Elle, Pack Pluri'Elle, Pack ETINC'Elle, etc.) with monthly fees and credit access; and a distribution partnership with NSIA Assurances for bancassurance products (FIN'Assur Auto, FIN'Elle Protection, FIN'Elle Santé). Proprietary digital channels include the Miss FINA WhatsApp assistant (balance inquiry, transfers, credit status, sub-agent withdrawals) and the FIN'Elle Mobile app, both designed to overcome digital literacy barriers among the informal-sector target population.

Fin'Elle generates revenue primarily through interest income on its credit portfolio (blended rates up to 1.5% monthly declining on most SME products), flat commissions on FIN'Express loans (9%), monthly account maintenance fees across business packs (2,500–15,000 FCFA), and commission income from insurance product distribution under the NSIA partnership. The institution has secured over EUR 28 million in institutional debt funding from FMO, EDFI ElectriFI, Oikocredit, and Swedfund, plus 4 billion FCFA from CDC-CI, and is ranked among the Top 10 microfinance institutions in Côte d'Ivoire. As of December 2025, Fin'Elle reports having financed more than 12,000 projects and injected approximately 152 billion FCFA cumulatively into the Ivorian economy.

Name

Fin'ELLE

Legal name

FIN'Elle SA

Website

https://fin-elle.com

Company type

Private

Founded year

2018

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

5,001–10,000 employees

Short description

Fin'Elle is a Côte d'Ivoire-based mesofinance institution, wholly owned by Groupe COFINA, that exclusively provides savings, credit, insurance, and digital banking services to 38,000+ women entrepreneurs and their enterprises through 5 branches and digital channels.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

NAICS

Commercial Banking (522110), Depository Credit Intermediation (5221)

SIC

State Commercial Banks (6022), Functions Related To Depository Banking, Nec (6099)

akta.pro primary industry

SME Deposits & Business Accounts (Operating, Savings, CDs) (FSABABAC)

akta.pro secondary industries

SME Cash Management & Payments (Merchant, ACH/Wires, Payroll) (FSABABAD), SME/Business Neobanks (FSABAFAB), SME Banking Suite (Business Accounts, Invoicing, Payroll Integrations) (FSAGAAAI), Equipment & Asset Finance (SME) (FSAKAGAF)

Keywords

• Women mesofinance services
• Microcredit lending
• Savings accounts
• Agricultural finance
• SME financing

Headquarters

HQ city

Abidjan

Offices4 records

Markets served

GTM type

B2C

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Operations, Technology or R&D, Marketing or Sales, Infrastructure, Supply Chain

Revenue model

1. Credit / Lending Interest Income: Primary revenue from interest charged on micro and mesofinance loans extended to women entrepreneurs. Products include consumer credit (up to 5M FCFA), business credit (FIN'Express up to 30M, investment credit up to 380M), agricultural credit (Agri Cash up to 150M), and emergency/spot credit. Interest rates up to 1.5% monthly declining for most SME products.
2. Savings / Deposit Taking: Accepts customer deposits through various savings products (Libre Epargne 3.5%, Livret Jeune 4.5%, Dépôt à Terme / DAT from 500K FCFA minimum). Deposits form a key part of balance sheet funding.
3. Insurance Distribution (Bancassurance): Distribution of insurance products in partnership with NSIA Assurances Côte d'Ivoire and under its own FIN'Assur / FIN'Elle Protection product lines. Commission revenue from insurance premiums on health, auto, merchandise, travel, and life protection products.
4. Account Management Fees: Monthly account maintenance fees charged on business packs (Pack Préférenti'Elle: 7,500 FCFA/month, Pack Pluri'Elle: 15,000 FCFA/month, Pack Individu'Elle: 2,500 FCFA/month, Pack Exceptionn'Elle: 5,000 FCFA/month).
5. FIN'Express Commission: FIN'Express short-term credit product charges a flat 9% commission on loan amount, generating fee income on rapid disbursement loans of 500K–30M FCFA for up to 60 days.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels6 records

Marketing channels13 records

Core offering

Fin'ELLE is a mesofinance institution (positioned between microfinance and traditional banking) that provides women entrepreneurs in Côte d'Ivoire with an integrated suite of savings, credit, insurance, and digital banking services. It serves individuals, individual businesses, legal entities (SA, SARL, SCI), and salaried employees through a tiered portfolio of products ranging from 100,000 FCFA microloans up to 500 million FCFA SME financing, complemented by agricultural credit lines, term deposits, and capacity-building programs. The institution operates 5 physical branches, a mobile-collector savings network, and digital channels including a WhatsApp Banking assistant (Miss FINA) and mobile/web self-service apps.

Product overview

FIN'Elle is a mesofinance institution dedicated to supporting women entrepreneurs in Côte d'Ivoire, offering a comprehensive suite of financial products and services. The product portfolio includes: (1) Savings products (BLE BLE for mobile collection-based savings, Epargne Libre for flexible savings with 3.5% rate, Livret Jeune for youth savings, DAT for business and personal term deposits); (2) Credit products covering individuals (Crédit à la consommation, Crédit d'occasion), SMEs (FIN'Express quick cash advances, Crédit d'investissement, Crédit en fond de roulement, Escompte sur chèque, Avance sur bon de commande, Avance sur facture, Crédit spot ou d'urgence), agriculture (Agri Cash, Agri Transport, Agri Equipement), and packaged offerings (Pack Individu'Elle for first-time entrepreneurs, Pack Exceptionn'Elle for salaried employees, Pack Préférenti'Elle for individual businesses, Pack Pluri'Elle for legal entities); (3) Insurance products (FIN'Elle Protection life insurance, FIN'Elle Bonus group savings insurance, FIN'Assur Auto vehicle insurance, FIN'Elle Santé health insurance, FIN'Assur Marchandise, FIN'Assur Voyage); and (4) Digital banking via Miss FINA WhatsApp Banking service. The company operates as a subsidiary of Groupe COFINA and primarily serves women entrepreneurs and SMEs in Côte d'Ivoire.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• Epargne Libre
• Livret Jeune A blocked savings account for minors (up to 18 years) opened by parents or guardians to save for a child's education or personal project, with a minimum deposit of 5,000 FCFA, 4.5% annual interest, and a 500 FCFA opening fee.
• Dépôt à Terme (DAT) A term deposit (block savings) product for individuals and businesses with a minimum deposit of 500,000 FCFA, a minimum 12-month term, and interest calculated annually per the published rate schedule. Designed for business capital management.
• BLE BLE A savings product that allows customers to make deposits without visiting a branch by using a network of field collectors (collectrices) who come to their home or business. Minimum deposit 1,000 FCFA, with quarterly interest calculation.
• Crédit à la consommation Personal consumer credit for individuals, used to finance purchases or the organization of personal events. Available over a 3-24 month duration.
• Crédit d'occasion Personal credit for individuals to finance purchases or events, with loan amounts from 100,000 to 5,000,000 FCFA, durations of 3-10 months, max 1.5% monthly declining interest, 2% insurance, and 3% processing fee.
• FIN'Express A quick cash advance for immediate and temporary working capital needs, with amounts from 500,000 to 30,000,000 FCFA for up to 60 days, charged a flat 9% commission.
• Crédit d'investissement Medium-term investment financing for business expansion or new equipment acquisition, with amounts up to 380,000,000 FCFA, durations of 6-84 months, and a 1.5% monthly declining interest rate.
• Crédit en fond de roulement Short-term working capital financing for operational needs such as stock purchases, input purchases, and cash flow gap coverage, with amounts starting at 1,000,000 FCFA, durations of 1-12 months, and 1.5% monthly declining interest.
• Crédit spot ou d'urgence Emergency short-term cash advance for very short periods to address unexpected cash needs, with amounts from 500,000 to 30,000,000 FCFA and durations of 1-6 months.
• Avance sur bon de commande A credit facility allowing businesses to finance up to 70% of a purchase order amount for up to 9 months, used for contract execution financing.
• Avance sur facture A credit facility enabling businesses to receive up to 80% of an already issued invoice amount for up to 6 months, used for invoice pre-financing with in-fine repayment.
• Escompte sur chèque A short-term advance on cheques from clients of good standing, providing up to 70% of the cheque amount within 30 days, used as short-term liquidity relief awaiting cheque clearance.
• Agri Cash Agricultural credit for liquidity needs related to market execution, such as purchasing raw materials or financing harvests, with amounts up to 150,000,000 FCFA and duration up to 12 months, aligned with the agricultural activity cycle.
• Agri Transport Agricultural credit for acquiring vehicles and transporting agricultural products, with amounts from 1,500,000 to 90,000,000 FCFA over up to 24 months, with repayment aligned with the crop cycle.
• Agri Equipement Agricultural credit for purchasing equipment for processing agricultural products, with amounts from 50,000 to 50,000,000 FCFA over up to 36 months, with repayment schedule aligned with the agricultural activity cycle.
• Pack Individu'Elle A starter package for first-time entrepreneurs and income-generating activities (AGR), providing credit up to 5,000,000 FCFA along with a savings account, prepaid card, mobile app access, and mail agreement.
• Pack Exceptionn'Elle A credit package designed for salaried employees with fixed monthly income, with credit access determined by the applicant's financial capacity and documentation (pay slip, employment contract/attestation, or lease agreement).
• Pack Préférenti'Elle A credit package for individual businesses (entreprises individuelles), offering financing up to 300,000,000 FCFA for business growth, with a 7,500 FCFA monthly account fee.
• Pack Pluri'Elle A credit package for legal entities (SA, SARL, SCI and similar), offering financing up to 500,000,000 FCFA to meet business needs, with a 15,000 FCFA monthly account fee.
• FIN'Elle Protection A life insurance product covering the policyholder for 5 years against death, accidental disability, or serious illness, with single annual premiums starting at 33,900 FCFA or monthly premiums starting at 5,900 FCFA. Available to account holders aged 18+.
• FIN'Elle Bonus A group savings insurance product that guarantees a 3.5% interest rate on capitalized savings and includes a bonus lottery draw where two insured members can win over 500,000 FCFA each, with a minimum monthly premium of 5,000 FCFA.
• FIN'Assur Auto Vehicle insurance covering third-party liability for vehicle owners, motorcyclists, and tricycle operators, including coverage for damage to other vehicles, property, and persons. Premium varies by market value, engine power, vehicle type, fuel type, and circulation zone.
• FIN'Elle Santé Health insurance coverage for policyholders, distributed as part of FIN'ELLE's NSIA Assurances bancassurance partnership.
• FIN'Assur Marchandise Insurance coverage for goods and merchandise, distributed as part of FIN'ELLE's NSIA Assurances bancassurance partnership.
• FIN'Assur Voyage Travel insurance coverage for travelers, distributed as part of FIN'ELLE's NSIA Assurances bancassurance partnership.
• Miss FINA (WhatsApp Banking) A WhatsApp-based banking service allowing customers to check balances, view account statements, check credit status, make transfers, perform sub-agent withdrawals, reload FIN'Carte, and access other banking services by messaging the dedicated WhatsApp number. Designed for low-digital-literacy customers.

Quantifiable outcome

• More than 12,000 projects financed since creation (through December 2025)
• +5 more outcomes

Named customers11 records

Ideal customer profiles4 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Feature3 records

Partnerships

Ten partnerships are on record, tiered core, minor and secondary.

• NSIA Assurances Côte d'IvoirecoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 12 June 2026Strategic insurance partnership making NSIA insurance products accessible to FIN'Elle's female entrepreneur client base. Covers health, auto, merchandise, travel, and life products. Includes joint product development for women-specific insurance needs, bimensuel monitoring committee, and trimestriel steering committee governance.
• Caisse des Dépôts et Consignations du Benin (CDC Benin)minorStrategic or Co-development Partner · 7 March 2026FIN'Elle participated in an institutional dinner organized by CDC Benin in Cotonou during International Women's Day celebrations. Madame Yénita BAMBA, DG of FIN'Elle, spoke on a panel about women's leadership in impact finance. Also featured restitution of the IDERA program results supporting women entrepreneurs in Benin.
• SAM MOTORS SAcoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 20 February 2026Strategic automobile financing partnership enabling women entrepreneurs to acquire vehicles through a bundled offer: SAM MOTORS vehicle + FIN'Elle equipment credit. Structured process with 14-day max dossier processing, joint governance (bimensuel monitoring committee, trimestriel steering committee), and funds disbursed post-vehicle delivery validation.
• Maison St-Joseph de Bonoua (Cofinois du Cœur program)minorOthers · 1 January 2025Corporate social responsibility partnership through Groupe COFINA's 'Cofinois du Cœur' initiative. FIN'Elle donated 500,000 FCFA to support rehabilitation and purchase of educational toys for psychomotor and sensory disabled children at the Maison St-Joseph de Bonoua institution. Part of broader community engagement beyond financial services.
• Visa (She's Next program)secondaryGTM or Marketing Partner · 1 August 2024FIN'Elle partnered as financial services provider for Visa's She's Next female entrepreneurship competition in Côte d'Ivoire. Offers finalists Visa cards, account opening, credit dossier support, and financing. Part of Visa's global She's Next initiative supporting 10,000+ women in 20 countries since 2019.
• Fonds Pierre CastelsecondaryGTM or Marketing Partner · 12 June 2024FIN'Elle partnered as financial supporter and trainer for the Prix Pierre Castel 2024 in Côte d'Ivoire (pan-African agricultural entrepreneurship prize). Trained 21 shortlisted candidates on financing access, provided coaching to finalists, and offered financing to top 3 winners and 7 non-finalist women. Agriculture employs 67% of women in Côte d'Ivoire per FAO.
• World Bank Group / We-Fi (Women Entrepreneurship Financing Initiative)secondaryStrategic or Co-development Partner · 14 May 2024FIN'Elle participated in World Bank-hosted launch of We-Fi Initiative for Côte d'Ivoire, aimed at improving women's access to financing (only 20% of women entrepreneurs currently access financing vs 42% for men in Côte d'Ivoire per BCEAO study). Initiative brings together key financial sector actors to address gender financing gap.
• LadyAgri Impact Investment HubsecondaryStrategic or Co-development Partner · 2 February 2022Partnership for inclusive financing of women in agriculture, specifically targeting the cassava value chain. LadyAgri provides technical assistance alongside FMO financing: diagnostic of financial needs, structuring of adapted financial offer, design and deployment of FIN'Elle's cassava sector product (covering Abidjan, Bouaké, Arrah, Bondoukou, Man, San Pedro). Linked to COP15 advocacy with Côte d'Ivoire First Lady Dominique Ouattara.
• La Ruche Health and HOPE LIFEminorOthersHealth awareness partnership for October Rose breast cancer awareness month. Joint workshop for FIN'Elle staff featuring gynecologist Dr. Emmanuelle KATTIE on breast cancer prevention and self-examination, and psychologist Mme Grâce YEDESS on psychological support for patients and families. Part of FIN'Elle's broader women's health and wellbeing commitment.
• LadyAgri / FMO / MINADER / GIZ / FIRCA / Swiss Research CentersecondaryStrategic or Co-development PartnerMulti-stakeholder Think Tank held May 2022 during COP15 in Abidjan on 'Inclusive Financing in the Agricultural Value Chain.' Organized by FIN'Elle and LadyAgri, with participation from government ministries and international organizations. Focused on structuring cassava and food crop value chain financing for women smallholders.

Scale indicators9 records

Recent moves7 records

Expansion highlights6 records

Direct peers

• ACEP Côte d'Ivoire (ACEP International): Microfinance institution active in Côte d'Ivoire providing credit and savings services to micro-entrepreneurs including women. Direct peer in product offering (microcredit, savings) and target segment (informal-sector women entrepreneurs).
• ADVANS Côte d'Ivoire (Advans Group): Pan-African microfinance/SME banking group with an Ivorian subsidiary offering savings, credit, and digital banking to small entrepreneurs and individuals. Directly comparable to Fin'Elle in target market (West African SMEs and informal sector) and product suite (savings + credit + digital channels).
• COFINA Côte d'Ivoire (Groupe COFINA): Sister subsidiary of Fin'Elle under Groupe COFINA, providing mesofinance and SME credit in Côte d'Ivoire. Compares as both related-party peer and direct competitor for SME/women entrepreneur lending, sharing the same parent balance sheet, governance, and brand platform.
• UNACOOPEC-CI: Ivorian cooperative network providing savings, credit, and member services to a broad base including women entrepreneurs and informal-sector workers. Direct peer given shared Côte d'Ivoire geography and overlapping customer segment of women micro-entrepreneurs.
• Baobab (formerly Microcred): Network of microfinance institutions operating in Côte d'Ivoire and other WAEMU countries, serving SMEs and individuals with credit, savings, and digital banking. Direct peer given overlapping geography (CIV presence), comparable customer segment (underbanked entrepreneurs), and similar mesofinance positioning.

Regional players

• Coris Bank International (Burkina Faso / WAEMU): WAEMU-headquartered commercial bank expanding into Côte d'Ivoire and other UEMOA markets with retail and SME banking services. Regional peer given shared regulatory perimeter (BCEAO/UEMOA) and partial overlap on SME/women-focused banking initiatives.
• PAMECAS (Senegal): Major Senegalese microfinance institution serving similar informal-sector and women-client segments with savings and credit products. Regional peer given shared WAEMU regulatory regime (BCEAO) and overlapping customer profile, though operating primarily in Senegal rather than Côte d'Ivoire.

Broad incumbents

• NSIA Banque Côte d'Ivoire: Major Ivorian commercial bank (within NSIA Group, insurance partner of Fin'Elle) operating across retail, SME, and corporate banking. Comparable as established financial incumbent in Côte d'Ivoire with overlap on SME banking and bancassurance distribution.
• Ecobank (Côte d'Ivoire): Pan-African banking group with major Ivorian operations and well-developed women-focused programs (e.g., Ecobank Female SME). Broad incumbent peer competing for overlapping SME/women clients with broader product portfolio than Fin'Elle.
• Orabank Côte d'Ivoire: Pan-African commercial banking group with an Ivorian subsidiary serving SMEs, including dedicated women's programs. Comparable as a broader incumbent operating in the same SME/financial inclusion space, though at larger scale and across a wider product portfolio than Fin'Elle's women-only focus.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat4 records

Key risks5 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• Xx.com/GROUPECOFINA
• YouTubeyoutube.com/channel/UCGqNJKRIThskqQJg3gxwQ
• Facebookfacebook.com/FinellebyCofina
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/fin-elle/?viewAsMember=true

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles4 records

Funding overview

Funding rounds1 record

Investors1 record

Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

M&A

Investments

M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

Frequently asked questions about Fin'ELLE