Afriland First Bank

What Afriland First Bank does

Afriland First Bank is a privately-held Cameroonian commercial bank founded in 1987, headquartered in Yaoundé and operating as the core banking subsidiary of the Swiss-registered Afriland First Group. It provides full-service retail, SME, corporate, and institutional banking through 91 branches, 234 ATMs, and 541 electronic payment terminals across Cameroon and 8 other African countries (with additional representative offices in Beijing, Paris, and Pointe Noire). As of disclosure, it serves 730,484+ clients with a total balance sheet exceeding XAF 1,000 billion (~USD 1.65B) and share capital of XAF 50 billion. The bank is also the first CEMAC institution to operate an Islamic finance window (since 2017) and to issue a credit card (Carte Blanche) in Cameroon/Central Africa.

The core product architecture pairs traditional banking (current and savings accounts, term deposits, investment credit, working capital facilities, leasing, trade and project finance, public procurement financing) with a digital stack comprising SARA Banking (mobile app), Sara Money (digital wallet interoperable with MTN/Orange Money), E-First (internet banking), SMS First alerts, and a banking agent network. Differentiated offerings include a tiered package system (Pack Budget, Fonctionnaire, Business, Elite First at XAF 500-12,000/month), Islamic finance products (Murabaha, Salam, Istisna, Ijarah), and capital markets activities via the wholly-owned Afriland Bourse & Investissement brokerage subsidiary (a Primary Dealer in all six CEMAC states).

Revenue is generated primarily through net interest income from lending (investment credits, working capital, leasing, trade and project finance), supplemented by transaction and account fees, FX operations, card fees, government securities trading (the bank is the leading creditor on the BEAC government securities market), and income from the Islamic finance window and brokerage subsidiary. Distribution relies on a sales-led model combining the 91-branch physical network with digital channels and institutional partnerships (Visa, IFC, ICD, BADEA, ITFC, African Guarantee Fund, BGFI, MoneyGram), targeting individuals, SMEs, corporates, government, and Sharia-compliant customers across the CEMAC region and select African markets.

Name

Afriland First Bank

Legal name

Afriland First Bank

Website

http://www.afrilandfirstbank.com/

Company type

Private

Founded year

1987

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

1,001–5,000 employees

Short description

Afriland First Bank is a privately-held Cameroonian commercial bank founded in 1987, serving 730,000+ retail, SME, corporate, and institutional customers through 91 branches across 9 African countries, with digital banking, Islamic finance, and brokerage subsidiaries.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Commercial Banking

NAICS

Commercial Banking (522110)

SIC

National Commercial Banks (6021)

akta.pro primary industry

Islamic SME & Commercial Banking (FSABAGAB)

akta.pro secondary industries

Islamic Corporate Banking (FSABAGAC), Islamic Transaction Banking (Cash Management & Treasury Services) (FSABAGAF), Shariah-compliant Financing Products (Murabaha, Ijara, Tawarruq, Istisna, Salam) (FSABAGAH), Islamic Investment Banking & Capital Markets Services (FSABAGAG)

Keywords

• Commercial banking services
• Islamic finance
• Digital mobile banking
• Trade finance
• SME lending

Headquarters

HQ city

Yaoundé

HQ country

Cameroon

HQ region

Africa

Offices8 records

Markets served

GTM type

B2B and B2C

Offering type

Services

Cost components

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

Revenue model

1. Interest Income from Lending: Traditional banking interest income from various credit products including investment credits, working capital facilities, leasing, trade finance, and project finance. Interest rates vary by product type.
2. Transaction and Fee Income: Fees from account maintenance, wire transfers, foreign exchange operations, card transactions, and other banking services.
3. Islamic Finance Products: Sharia-compliant banking products including Murabaha, Salam, Istisna, and Ijarah financing structures offered through dedicated Islamic finance windows.
4. Digital Banking Services: Revenue from digital banking subscriptions including E-First online banking, Sara Banking mobile app, and SMS First alerts.
5. Investment and Wealth Products: Income from investment products including time deposits (DAT), cash notes (bons de caisse), portfolio management, and brokerage services through subsidiary Afriland Bourse & Investissement.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels7 records

Marketing channels5 records

Core offering

Afriland First Bank is a private Cameroonian commercial bank founded in 1987, providing retail, corporate, institutional, and Sharia-compliant Islamic banking services through 91 branches across Cameroon and a presence in 9 African countries. Its core offerings span current and savings accounts, payment cards (including Carte Blanche, the first credit card in Central Africa), consumer and corporate credit (investment, working capital, leasing, trade finance, project finance), term deposits, brokerage via Afriland Bourse & Investissement, and digital channels via the SARA ecosystem (Sara Banking, Sara Money digital wallet, E-First internet banking, SMS First alerts). The bank also operates the first Islamic finance window in the CEMAC region, offering Mourabaha, Salam, Istisna, and Ijarah Sharia-compliant products, and serves as a Primary Dealer in government treasury securities across all six CEMAC states.

Product overview

Afriland First Bank operates as a full-service commercial bank offering a platform-plus-modules architecture. The core banking infrastructure covers corporate, retail, Islamic, institutional, and student segments, with digital channels anchored by the Sara ecosystem (Sara Banking mobile app, Sara Money digital wallet, E-First internet banking, SMS First alerts, and the Afriland Agent network). The bank differentiates through its extensive product suite including the Carte Blanche credit card (first in Central Africa), the Islamic Finance window (first in CEMAC), the Afriland Bourse & Investissement brokerage subsidiary, and specialized financing for SMEs, trade, infrastructure, and public procurement. Account packages (Pack Budget, Fonctionnaire, Business, Elite First) bundle cards, insurance, and digital services at tiered price points. The bank also provides POS terminals, term deposits, leasing, and non-financial business support through networking events.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Brands

• SARA: Digital banking platform including SARA Banking (mobile banking for account holders) and SARA Money (digital wallet for non-account holders)
• E-First
• Afriland First Bank Finance Islamique
• Carte Blanche
• Afriland Bourse & Investissement
• Packages (Pack Budget, ECO, Business, Premium)
• Young Graduate Program

Products and services

• E-First Internet Banking Online banking platform enabling companies and individuals to consult accounts and perform bank transfers autonomously at any time without visiting a branch, secured by SSL encryption and DIGIPASS for enterprises.
• Sara Banking Mobile Application Mobile banking application available on PlayStore and AppStore that allows customers to access bank accounts, perform transactions, submit complaints, and locate branches and ATMs from their smartphone 24/7.
• Sara Money Digital Wallet Virtual mobile wallet that does not require a bank account, enabling money transfers, bill payments, airtime purchases, tontine (rotating savings) management, QR code payments, and OTP-secured transactions. Integrates with MTN Mobile Money and Orange Money.
• Afriland Agent Banking-Correspondent Network

Quantifiable outcome

• Over XAF 1,000 billion in deposits collected as of February 2021
• +4 more outcomes

Named customers7 records

Segments5 records

Ideal customer profiles5 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Integration7 records

Feature4 records

Partnerships

Eight partnerships are on record, tiered core, strategic and minor.

• VisacoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 2 April 2025Strategic partnership in Cameroon to promote financial inclusion and digitalization through a 'Growth Agreement'. The partnership aims to expand the reach of digital payment solutions and support Afriland First Bank's growth and modernization efforts. It also strengthens Visa's presence in the Cameroonian market and fosters adoption of payment innovations.
• BGFI GroupstrategicStrategic or Co-development PartnerInter-bank cooperation agreement signed January 2023 in Douala for project co-financing, international trade, and shared research. Agreement includes human resource optimization through staff secondment and training programs.
• Civil Service Agency of LiberiaminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerPartnership to launch 50% salary advance and long-term loan scheme for Liberian civil servants, expanding financial inclusion in Liberia.
• Université de MarouaminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerPartnership agreement to promote financial inclusion among university students and staff.
• Université Protestante d'Afrique Centrale (UPAC)minorStrategic or Co-development PartnerDiamond partner for UPAC's 60th anniversary celebration, supporting youth education and training initiatives.
• Commission Nationale du Hadj du CamerounminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerTechnical and financial support for Hajj pilgrimage services, acting as financial agent for over 15 years.
• ProAlu (Groupe El Jammal Hayssam)strategicStrategic or Co-development PartnerFinancing partnership for ProAlu aluminum factory project - a large metallurgical complex to reduce external dependency and strengthen local industry. Bank has been supporting this investor since their Cameroon establishment.
• Groupement des Transporteurs Terrestres du Cameroun (GTTC)minorStrategic or Co-development PartnerPartnership agreement to promote leasing as preferred financing mechanism for transport sector, signed February 2023.

Scale indicators10 records

Recent moves11 records

Expansion highlights6 records

Direct peers

• Attijariwafa Bank: Moroccan banking group with expanding pan-African footprint including CEMAC. Competes with Afriland First Bank in retail, corporate, and investment banking across CEMAC markets with comparable Islamic banking ambitions.
• Al Baraka Banking Group: Bahrain-headquartered Islamic banking group with African presence. Direct competitor to Afriland's Islamic finance window in serving sharia-compliant banking customers with comparable products (Murabaha, Ijarah, Salam).
• United Bank for Africa (UBA): Pan-African commercial bank operating in 20+ African countries with CEMAC presence. Competes with Afriland in retail banking, digital wallets, and corporate finance across the same African customer segments.
• Société Générale Cameroun: Cameroon subsidiary of French banking group Société Générale, offering comparable retail, corporate, and institutional banking services to the same customer segments as Afriland First Bank in Cameroon.
• Ecobank: Largest pan-African banking group with presence across CEMAC including Cameroon, Chad, and CAR. Directly competes with Afriland First Bank in retail, SME, corporate, and trade finance across the same regional customer base.
• BICEC (Banque Internationale du Cameroun pour l'Épargne et le Crédit): Major Cameroonian commercial bank owned by Natixis, serving the same retail, SME, and corporate customers as Afriland First Bank within the Cameroonian domestic market.
• Banque Atlantique: West and Central Africa banking group (subsidiary of BCP Morocco) with operations in multiple CEMAC countries. Directly competes with Afriland First Bank in retail, SME, and corporate banking across the region.
• Banque Sahélo-Saharienne pour l'Investissement et le Commerce (BSIC): Regional African bank headquartered in Mauritania with Islamic banking focus. Direct peer to Afriland in serving sharia-compliant customers with Murabaha, Ijarah, and Salam products across African markets.
• BGFI Bank: CEMAC-focused banking group headquartered in Gabon with operations in Cameroon, Congo, and Equatorial Guinea. Directly competes with Afriland First Bank in CEMAC retail and corporate banking; Afriland has an interbank cooperation agreement with BGFI.

Emerging players

• Coris Bank International: Burkina Faso-headquartered pan-African emerging bank expanding across West and Central Africa. Comparable to Afriland in targeting SME and retail segments with digital-first distribution, though with smaller CEMAC footprint today.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat6 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• Xx.com/Afb_Cameroun

Compliance1 record

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles10 records

Subsidiaries2 records

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

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

M&A1 record

Investments

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

Frequently asked questions about Afriland First Bank