Acep Sénégal

What Acep Sénégal does

Acep Sénégal is a Dakar-based mutual microfinance institution (legal name Alliance de Crédit et d'Épargne pour la Production; operating brands ACEP Sénégal, UM ACEP, and as of 2026 UC ACEP COOP CA) serving more than 225,000 active members (sociétaires) across all 14 regions of Senegal. Founded as a project in Kaolack in 1985, institutionalized as a mutual savings and credit fund in 1993, and Senegalized with financial self-sufficiency in 1994, the institution today operates a distribution network of 19 full-service agencies, approximately 90 service points (guichets), and a proximity-agent network (ACEP FEKKISILA), serving micro-entrepreneurs (TPE), small and medium enterprises (PME), agricultural producers, individual savers, private educational establishments, and self-employed professionals. The portfolio is anchored in financial inclusion for underserved populations in Senegal.

The product set spans credit (Crédits Sokhekou for TPE under 15 million FCFA, Crédit Tóor Tóor for agriculture, Crédits Bideew for PME, Crédits Tabax for real estate, Crédits Doolel Njàng for education, salary-backed loans, and Spot Waajal quick credit), savings (current accounts, Yokku Ba Yeg Ko special savings, Taxaw Temm fixed-term deposits up to 6% net, and project plans Jëm Kanam and Terral), banking services (ACEP FEPP mobile banking, Koom-Koom prepaid Visa cards), money transfer agency agreements (Western Union, MoneyGram, Ria, SmallWorld, OrangeMoney), and market guarantees (caution de marché) for public procurement. The technical stack includes a proprietary Management Information System (SIG) developed in-house since 1999 that integrates credit, savings, and accounting; the SAMA ACEP mobile application; USSD banking (#144#8123#); Bank-to-Wallet integration with Orange Money and Wave; and participation in BCEAO's PI-SPI instant payment platform spanning the UEMOA region. The institution recently expanded into Islamic microfinance (PADEF-EJ, PALAM, PROMISE), index-based agricultural insurance (CNAAS), and rural entrepreneurship programs (DER-FJ, AJESUD with 3FPT, GRET, EU).

The business model is sales-led and distribution-led, monetizing the intermediation spread between lending yield and up to 6% paid on savings deposits, plus transaction and guarantee fees (money transfer agency commissions, prepaid card interchange, bid/performance/advance-payment bonds). Members are co-owners through social shares (12,000 FCFA to open a current account) and the cooperative reinvests profits to grow the member base, as evidenced by FY2025 indicators of 130 billion FCFA injected through 41,164 loans, a 2 billion FCFA net result, 16% growth in net assets, and 21% growth in equity funds. Digital channels (mobile app, USSD, WhatsApp, call center) complement the physical branch and agent network as a secondary self-serve layer for account management and Bank-to-Wallet transfers.

Name

Acep Sénégal

Legal name

Alliance de Crédit et d'Épargne pour la Production (ACEP)

Website

https://acepsenegal.com

Company type

Private

Founded year

1994

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

251–500 employees

Short description

Acep Sénégal is a Dakar-based mutual microfinance institution founded in 1985, serving 225,000+ members across all 14 regions of Senegal through 19 agencies, ~90 service points, and digital channels, providing credit, savings, banking, money transfer, and market guarantee services to micro-entrepreneurs, SMEs, and agricultural producers.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Microfinance

NAICS

Savings Institutions and Other Depository Credit Intermediation (52218), Credit Unions (52213), Depository Credit Intermediation (5221)

SIC

Short-Term Business Credit Institutions (6153), Personal Credit Institutions (6141), Savings Institutions, Not Federally Chartered (6036)

akta.pro primary industry

SME, Microfinance & Financial Inclusion Facilities (BPADACAI)

akta.pro secondary industries

Agricultural & Rural Development Banks (FSABAKAE), Islamic SME & Commercial Banking (FSABAGAB), Community Development Credit Unions (CDCUs) (FSABAEAC)

Keywords

• Microfinance services
• Microcredit loans
• Savings accounts
• Mobile money transfers
• Financial inclusion

Headquarters

HQ city

Dakar

HQ country

Senegal

HQ region

Africa

Offices20 records

Markets served

GTM type

B2B and B2C

Offering type

Services

Cost components

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

Revenue model

1. Microcredit Operations: ACEP provides credit products to micro-entrepreneurs, small enterprises (TPE), and SMEs. Credit products include Crédits Sokhekou, Crédit Tóor Tóor (agricultural), Crédits Bideew (PME), Crédits Tabax (real estate), Crédits Doolel Njàng (schools), salaried credits, and Spot Waajal. Interest income from lending constitutes primary revenue.
2. Savings Mobilization: ACEP collects savings deposits including current accounts, special savings accounts (Yokku Ba Yeg Ko), term accounts (Taxaw Temm), and project savings plans (Jëm Kanam, Terral). Interest paid to depositors up to 6%. Savings float contributes to lending capacity.
3. Banking Services: Banking services including ACEP FEPP (mobile banking), ACEP FEKKISILA (proximity agent network), Visa prepaid cards (Koom-Koom), and money transfers via Western Union, MoneyGram, Ria, SmallWorld, OrangeMoney partnerships.
4. Market Guarantees (Caution de marché): Signature guarantees and bonds for members including bid bonds, performance bonds, advance payment guarantees, and retention guarantees for public procurement and contracts.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels6 records

Marketing channels5 records

Core offering

Acep Sénégal is a mutual microfinance institution that provides credit, savings, money transfer, and digital banking services to individuals, micro-entrepreneurs, small and medium enterprises, salaried workers, farmers, and private educational establishments. It delivers these services through 19 agencies and 90 service points across 14 regions of Senegal, supported by digital channels including a mobile app, USSD banking, and dedicated SME credit platforms.

Product overview

ACEP Senegal operates as a microfinance institution offering a comprehensive suite of financial products and services organized around credit, savings, and banking services. The core offering includes the SAMA ACEP mobile application and INTRACEP online banking portal for digital access, supplemented by a physical network of 19 agencies and nearly 90 service points across 14 regions. Credit products span multiple segments: Crédits Sokhekou for micro-enterprises (under 15M FCFA), Crédit Tóor Tóor for agriculture, Crédits Bideew for SMEs, Crédits Tabax for real estate, Crédits Doolel Njàng for education, Crédits Salariés for employees, and Crédits Spot Waajal for quick financing. Savings offerings include current accounts, Yokku Ba Yeg Ko special savings, Taxaw Temm fixed-term deposits, and project savings plans (Jëm Kanam for entrepreneurs, Terral for individuals). Banking services encompass ACEP FEKKISILA agent banking, Koom-Koom prepaid Visa cards, international money transfers via Western Union/MoneyGram/Ria/SmallWorld/OrangeMoney, and Bank to Wallet services through Orange Money and Wave. The institution celebrated its 30th anniversary in 2024 and serves over 225,000 active members.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• Microcredit for Very Small Enterprises (Crédit TPE)
• Credit for Small and Medium Enterprises (Crédit PME) Credit facilities for small and medium enterprises (Petites et Moyennes Entreprises), supporting their working capital and investment needs as part of Acep Sénégal's diversified portfolio.
• Agricultural Credit (Crédit Agricole / Crédit aux Producteurs) Credit facilities designed for farmers and the agricultural sector, addressing seasonal and working capital needs of rural producers served by Acep Sénégal across 14 regions.
• Salary-Backed Credit (Crédit Salarié) Credit facilities extended to salaried workers, typically repaid through payroll deduction, offered as part of Acep Sénégal's individual member services.
• Education Sector Credit (Crédit Éducation / Établissements Privés d'Enseignement) Credit facilities tailored to private educational establishments and related communities (e.g., school fees financing and institutional lending), serving Acep Sénégal's education-sector segment.
• Savings Products (Épargne à vue DAT et Dépôts à Terme) On-demand savings accounts (DAT) and term deposits (Dépôts à Terme) offered to Acep Sénégal's individual members, salaried workers, and institutional clients across its branch network.
• Money Transfer Services (Transfert d'argent national et international) Domestic and international money transfer services enabling members and the public to send and receive funds through Acep Sénégal's branch and digital channels.
• Banking Services (Services Bancaires) Core banking services (account operations, deposits, withdrawals, and related transactions) delivered to Acep Sénégal's individual and institutional members through its branch and digital channels.
• SAMA ACEP Mobile Application Mobile application that allows Acep Sénégal members to perform banking operations (account access, transfers, and related services) via smartphone, complementing the branch network.
• USSD Banking (*820#) USSD short-code (*820#) banking service that enables Acep Sénégal members without smartphones to access basic banking and transfer functions from any mobile phone.
• Bideew Mobile Credit (Crédit mobile Bideew) Mobile-based credit product (Bideew) targeting individual members, providing digital access to short-term loans outside of the traditional branch credit process.
• Bideew PME Digital Credit (Crédit digital PME) Digital credit platform (Bideew PME) tailored to small and medium enterprises, extending Acep Sénégal's SME credit offering through a digital channel distinct from the traditional branch-based PME loan.

Quantifiable outcome

• 106 billion FCFA financing to economy in 2023
• +3 more outcomes

Named customers4 records

Segments6 records

Ideal customer profiles3 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Integration9 records

Feature4 records

Partnerships

16 partnerships are on record, tiered core and minor.

• CNAAS (Compagnie Nationale d'Assurance Agricole du Sénégal)coreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 February 2026Strategic partnership for securing agricultural credits through index-based insurance adapted to producer needs. Covers climate risks and limits impact of agricultural losses on farming operations while preserving loan portfolio quality.
• DER-FJ (Dynamisation de l'Entrepreneuriat Rural)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerPartnership for rural entrepreneurship development providing financing mechanisms, guarantees, and accompaniment for rural entrepreneurs.
• PADEF-EJ (Islamic financing)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerIslamic finance partnership providing sharia-compliant financing solutions for economic development.
• PALAM (Islamic financing)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerIslamic microfinance partnership offering sharia-compliant credit products.
• PROMISE (Islamic financing)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerIslamic finance partnership for product development and financing access.
• AJESUD (Youth Support in Southern Senegal)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerPartnership with 3FPT, GRET, and EU support for youth accompaniment in southern Senegal through training and financing programs.
• Western UnionminorChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorInternational money transfer service available at all ACEP agencies for sending and receiving money globally.
• MoneyGramminorChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorInternational money transfer service available at all ACEP agencies.
• RiaminorChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorInternational money transfer service available at all ACEP agencies.
• SmallWorldminorChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorInternational money transfer service available at all ACEP agencies.
• OrangeMoneycoreTechnology or IntegrationMobile money integration for Bank to Wallet services via USSD code #144#8123# and Orange Money application.
• WAVEcoreTechnology or IntegrationMobile money integration for Bank to Wallet services enabling transfers between ACEP accounts and Wave mobile money.
• BCEAO (Banque Centrale des États de l'Afrique de l'Ouest)coreTechnology or IntegrationCentral bank providing PI-SPI (Plateforme Interopérable du Système de Paiement Instantané) for instant payments across UEMOA space.
• APIM-Sénégal (Association Professionnelle des Institutions de Microfinance)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerProfessional association facilitating knowledge sharing and cooperation between microfinance institutions in Senegal. Assisted with RIM Burundi delegation visit for digital finance exchange.
• ES Banque (École Supérieure de la Banque)minorStrategic or Co-development PartnerPartner in professional microfinance training program along with MAIN for diploma certification in microfinance.
• MAIN (Microfinance African Institutions Network)minorStrategic or Co-development PartnerAfrican network of microfinance institutions partnering with APIM-Sénégal and ES Banque for professional microfinance training.

Scale indicators15 records

Recent moves7 records

Expansion highlights7 records

Emerging players

• Orange Money Senegal: Mobile money arm of Orange Senegal providing P2P transfers, bill payment, and increasingly merchant and credit services. Currently a Bank-to-Wallet integration partner of ACEP, but a strategic threat if it expands into deposit-taking and lending.
• Wave Senegal: Mobile money operator that has rapidly scaled low-cost P2P transfers in Senegal. While not a microcredit institution today, Wave's expanding footprint threatens ACEP's deposit and remittance franchise and represents the most disruptive emerging competitor.

Direct peers

• Baobab Senegal (formerly MicroCred Senegal): Microfinance institution serving micro-entrepreneurs and SMEs across Senegal with digital and physical channels. Operates with the same product suite (microcredit, savings, mobile money) but is part of a larger pan-African group, making it a close peer with broader resources.
• PAMECAS (Partage avec les Micro Entrepreneurs pour le Crédit et l'Épargne au Sénégal): Another major Senegalese mutual microfinance institution offering savings, credit, and banking services to micro-entrepreneurs and SMEs. Directly comparable in business model, target segments, and cooperative ownership structure, competing head-to-head in the same Senegalese market.
• Crédit Mutuel du Sénégal (CMS): Senegalese cooperative banking institution offering savings, credit, and payment services. Shares the mutual/cooperative DNA and similar member-based governance, with overlapping product lines in microcredit and SME finance.
• Advans Banque Côte d'Ivoire / Advans Senegal: Network of microfinance banks serving small entrepreneurs across West and Central Africa. Comparable in target customer (TPE/PME), product offering, and technology-led distribution, with overlapping Senegalese operations.

Broad incumbents

• Banque Atlantique Senegal: Subsidiary of Atlantic Business International (BOA group) providing commercial and SME banking across West Africa. Competes with ACEP for SME credit and market guarantees but serves larger enterprise clients with full banking services.
• ACEP international (France-headquartered): Broader ACEP network that helped originate the Senegalese operation. While not directly competing in Senegal, it represents the originating ecosystem and a potential partner or affiliate for regional ACEP expansion.
• Orabank Senegal: Commercial bank operating across West and Central Africa with SME and retail banking services. Overlaps with ACEP on the upper end of the SME segment but offers a broader banking license including corporate and FX services that ACEP cannot.

Others

• Réseau Microfinance Sénégal (RMS) / MEC FADEC: Network of affiliated microfinance institutions in Senegal. Comparable as ecosystem participants and partners, sharing the Senegalese microfinance regulatory environment and overlapping member base.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat6 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights8 records

Customer concentration

• Facebookfacebook.com/AcePSenegal
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/acepsenegal

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles4 records

Subsidiaries2 records

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 Acep Sénégal