CRDB Bank Burundi

What CRDB Bank Burundi does

CRDB Bank Burundi S.A. is a full-service commercial bank incorporated in Burundi in 2012 as a wholly-owned subsidiary of CRDB Bank Plc, a Tanzanian financial services group established in 1996 and headquartered in Dar es Salaam. The bank is domiciled in Bujumbura and operates as a regional market entity within the broader CRDB Group, which also operates in Tanzania and the Democratic Republic of Congo. Its business spans deposit accounts (Current, Saving, Salary, Scholar, Junior Jumbo, Malkia, and Diaspora), a lending suite (Personal Loan, Salary Advance, Twige Twese education loan, SME financing, Corporate Banking), treasury services (Fixed Deposit, Government Securities), and revenue-generating partnerships (Bancassurance, Western Union, SWIFT correspondent banking via CITIBANK and BOA-France).

The bank operates across multiple delivery channels: physical branches in Bujumbura and Ngozi, a network of approximately 2,000 CRDB Turi Hose agents providing doorstep banking, TemboCard VISA debit issuance, Bi-switch ATM integration, and digital platforms including SimBanking (USSD *199# and mobile app) and Internet Banking. Cross-border service allows customers to access accounts at CRDB Bank Plc Tanzania and CRDB Bank Congo. Target customer segments include salaried employees, students, SMEs, corporate and institutional clients, diaspora, youth, women, and high-net-worth individuals (via Premier Banking).

Revenue is generated through interest income on loans and deposits, transaction and transfer fees (including 0.5% on diaspora transfers), foreign exchange margin on international transfers, account maintenance fees, and commission from bancassurance and Western Union services. The bank is undertaking an ISO 27001:2022 Information Security Management System certification project expected to strengthen its cybersecurity posture over 6-9 months, and is expanding infrastructure outside the capital via a Ngozi agency renovation project.

Name

CRDB Bank Burundi

Legal name

CRDB Bank Burundi S.A.

Website

https://crdbbank.co.bi

Company type

Private

Founded year

2012

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

101–250 employees

Short description

CRDB Bank Burundi S.A. is a Bujumbura-based full-service commercial bank and wholly-owned subsidiary of Tanzania's CRDB Bank Plc, offering deposit, lending, treasury, and digital banking products to retail, SME, corporate, diaspora, and HNW customers across Burundi via branches, 2,000+ agents, and mobile/internet channels.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Retail and Commercial Banking

NAICS

Commercial Banking (52211), Depository Credit Intermediation (5221)

SIC

State Commercial Banks (6022)

akta.pro primary industry

Multi-Currency Accounts, Wallets & IBAN Services (FSAMAIAG)

Keywords

• Retail banking services
• Commercial banking
• Digital banking platforms
• Agent banking network
• Microfinance lending

Headquarters

HQ city

Bujumbura

HQ country

Burundi

Offices6 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: The bank generates revenue through interest earned on loans provided to personal, SME, and corporate customers, as well as interest on savings and fixed deposits
2. Transaction Fees: Fees charged for money transfers, including 0.5% transfer fee for diaspora accounts on both incoming and outgoing international transfers
3. Foreign Exchange Services: Revenue generated from international transfers and foreign exchange transactions, including correspondent banking relationships with CITIBANK New York and BOA-France
4. Bancassurance: Partnership revenue from selling insurance products (life, property, vehicle, travel, goods-in-transit) through the bank's distribution channels
5. Account Fees and Charges: Monthly and maintenance fees on various account types, minimum deposit requirements, and charges for specialized services
6. Corporate Banking Services: Revenue from overdraft facilities, letters of credit, bank guarantees, and term loans for corporate and institutional customers

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion2 records

Distribution channels7 records

Marketing channels8 records

Core offering

CRDB Bank Burundi operates as a full-service commercial bank providing deposit accounts, credit facilities (personal, SME, corporate), digital and agent banking channels, treasury services, cross-border transfers, and bancassurance products to individuals, businesses, diaspora customers, and high-net-worth clients in Burundi. It is the Burundian subsidiary of CRDB Bank Plc (CRDB Bank Group) of Tanzania, distributing services through branches, a 2,000+ Turi Hose agent network, the SimBanking mobile/USSD platform, Internet Banking, and an integrated ATM/Visa network.

Product overview

CRDB Bank Burundi operates as a diversified financial services institution offering a comprehensive portfolio of banking products and services through multiple delivery channels. The core offering consists of seven deposit accounts (Current, Saving, Salary, Scholar, Junior Jumbo, Malkia, and Diaspora) designed for different customer segments from salaried employees to diaspora clients. Credit products include Personal Loans, Salary Advances, Education Loans (Twige Twese), SME Financing, and Corporate Banking services. Treasury services encompass Fix Deposit Accounts and Government Securities trading. The bank differentiates through digital-first delivery via SimBanking (USSD/app), Internet Banking, and a network of approximately 2,000 CRDB Turi Hose agents. Premium services include Premier Banking for high net worth clients, Microfinance Birashoboka for financial inclusion, and Cross Border banking with CRDB Bank Plc Tanzania and Congo. Additional services include TemboCard (VISA debit), Western Union transfers, International SWIFT transfers, and Bancassurance products covering life, property, vehicle, travel, and cargo insurance.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Brands

• SimBanking: Mobile banking service allowing transactions via dial *199# or via the SimBanking app
• TemboCard
• CRDB Turi Hose
• Premier Banking
• Microfinance Birashoboka
• Salary Advance
• Twige Twese
• Diaspora Account
• CRDB Bancassurance
• Fix Deposit Account
• Ku Gatumba Loan

Products and services

• Current Account Transactional bank account with checkbook functionality for seamless third-party payments, accompanied by a Tembo VISA debit card for ATM and merchant access; for individuals and businesses needing day-to-day banking.
• Saving Account Interest-bearing savings account with competitive daily interest rates, available in BIF, USD, and EURO currencies, with full fund accessibility; for individuals seeking to grow deposits.
• Malkia Account Savings plan tailored for women offering competitive interest rates, flexible short-term financing up to 80% of savings, and entrepreneurial training opportunities; for women customers seeking savings and credit access.
• Junior Jumbo Account Savings account for children aged 0-18 years with high interest rates, no fees, and automatic conversion to student or savings account at age 18; for minors and their parents building savings.
• Salary Account Account for salaried employees receiving payments through CRDB Bank, offering instant free Tembo VISA card and access to credit facilities; for salaried workers.
• Scholar Account Savings account for students aged 18+ with no fees, free instant Tembo Inzovu Visa card, and SMS alerts for academic-focused banking; for students.
• Diaspora Account Account designed for Burundians abroad offering multi-currency savings (BIF/USD/EURO), competitive interest rates (6% BIF, 2% USD), reduced transfer fees (0.5%), and eligibility for Ku Gatumba mortgage loans; for the Burundian diaspora.
• Personal Loan Credit facility for employees with CRDB Bank accounts who are part of employer groups with salary deposits at the bank; for salaried individuals needing personal credit.
• Salary Advance Quick credit solution for salaried employees channeling salary through CRDB Bank, offering instant account credit during service hours via SimBanking *199#; for salaried customers needing short-term liquidity.
• Twige Twese Education Loan Specialized salary advance for educational expenses with 10-month repayment period, competitive interest rates, and free business advisory services for salaried employees; for salaried customers funding education.
• SME Financing Comprehensive SME banking solutions including overdrafts, letters of credit, bank guarantees, and term loans for working capital and business expansion; for small and medium enterprises.
• Corporate Banking Banking services for corporate clients including overdrafts, short/medium/long-term credits, letters of credit, and bank guarantees backed by property or liquid assets; for large corporate entities, institutions, cooperatives, and microfinance institutions.
• Fix Deposit Account Time deposit account with flexible maturity options (3, 6, 12, 24 months), guaranteed returns, and overdraft facility using the deposit as collateral; available in BIF, USD, and EURO for savers seeking fixed returns.
• Government Securities

Quantifiable outcome

• 2,000+ agent locations nationwide through Turi Hose network
• +2 more outcomes

Segments6 records

Ideal customer profiles6 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Integration6 records

Feature4 records

Partnerships

Eight partnerships are on record, tiered core and supporting.

• Western UnioncoreChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorCRDB Bank Burundi is an authorized Western Union agent providing international money transfer services at all branches. The partnership enables customers to send and receive money securely worldwide, particularly serving needs for family support, business trips, medical care, and education payments.
• Insurance Partners (Bancassurance)coreChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorBancassurance partnership with insurance companies allowing CRDB Bank to sell insurance products including life insurance (Credit Insurance Cover, Mpozamarira), property insurance (fire and burglary), vehicle insurance, travel insurance, and goods-in-transit insurance through bank distribution channels.
• CITIBANK New YorksupportingTechnology or IntegrationCorrespondent banking relationship for international USD transfers, serving as intermediate bank for transfers in US Dollars between CRDB Bank Burundi and international destinations.
• CRDB Bank Plc TanzaniacoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerParent company and cross-border banking partner enabling customers to access their accounts at CRDB Bank Plc branches across Tanzania, facilitating regional business operations and transactions.
• CRDB Bank CongocoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerSubsidiary banking partner enabling cross-border transactions between Burundi and Congo, allowing customers to access funds from their accounts across CRDB Bank branches in the Democratic Republic of Congo.
• BOA-FrancesupportingTechnology or IntegrationCorrespondent banking relationship for international EUR transfers, serving as corresponding bank for transfers in Euros for CRDB Bank Burundi customers.
• Lumicash and Ecocash (Mobile Money)coreTechnology or IntegrationMobile money partnerships enabling fund transfers between bank accounts and mobile wallets, as well as bill payments and voucher purchases through SimBanking platform.
• ISO 27001:2022 Certification VendorssupportingImplementation/ SI/ Consulting PartnerPartnership with vendors for ISO 27001:2022 Information Security Management System implementation and certification, expected to strengthen cybersecurity posture over 6-9 months.

Scale indicators5 records

Recent moves7 records

Expansion highlights7 records

Direct peers

• Interbank Burundi: Domestic Burundian commercial bank offering full-service retail, corporate, and treasury products. Competes head-to-head with CRDB Bank Burundi in Bujumbura and provincial markets.
• KCB Bank Burundi: Burundian subsidiary of KCB Group, one of the largest banks in the country, offering retail, SME, corporate, and digital banking. Direct competitor in the same product categories and customer segments.
• Equity Bank Burundi: Burundian subsidiary of Equity Group Holdings, known for financial inclusion, agent banking, and mobile channels. Closest peer on financial inclusion strategy and agent-led distribution.
• Ecobank Burundi: Subsidiary of Ecobank Transnational, a pan-African banking group, offering retail, corporate, and trade finance in Burundi. Comparable on cross-border regional capabilities and corporate banking.
• CRDB Bank Congo: Sister subsidiary of CRDB Bank Group operating in the DRC with the same product suite and cross-border integration. Highly comparable on business model, customer segments, and group-driven technology stack.
• Bancobu (Banque Commerciale du Burundi): One of the largest local commercial banks in Burundi, offering deposits, lending, trade finance, and digital channels. Direct domestic peer for retail, SME, and corporate banking.
• CRDB Bank Plc (Tanzania): Parent company and operator of the same brand, products, and digital platform across Tanzania — directly comparable in product mix (deposits, lending, SimBanking, Turi Hose, TemboCard) and target segments. Functions as the strategic anchor for CRDB Bank Burundi.
• I&M Bank Burundi: Burundian subsidiary of I&M Group, providing retail, SME, and corporate banking with strong digital and FX capabilities. Direct comparator for customer segmentation and product mix.

Broad incumbents

• Ecobank Transnational: Pan-African banking group with subsidiaries across 30+ countries including Burundi. Comparable on cross-border trade finance, correspondent banking, and corporate banking footprint.
• KCB Group: East African banking group with multiple country subsidiaries including Burundi; broader regional platform with overlapping digital and cross-border capabilities. Useful benchmark for parent-level strategy and regional scale.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat5 records

Key risks5 records

Key highlights6 records

Customer concentration

• Xx.com/CRDBbankBurundi
• Facebookfacebook.com/crdbbankburundi
• Instagraminstagram.com/crdbbankburundi
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/crdb-bank-burundi

Compliance1 record

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles19 records

Subsidiaries1 record

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

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 CRDB Bank Burundi