Cmr economy witnesses a sharp increase in bank loans

Despite the reservations of the National Council of credit, Cameroonian banks extend credit facilities to customers, as well as individuals. In addition, deposits have evolved also in recent months.

Cameroon banks contribute more to the finances of the national economy, through growing Bank loans, both in respect of businesses for the benefit of individuals. Between 2012 and 2013, these different loan customers experienced an increase of 323 billion CFA which in relative value has moved from 1 890 billion CFAF to 2 213 billion CFA, an increase of over 17% in absolute value.

This means that despite concerns from the Professional Association of credit institutions in Cameroon (Apeccam) and those of the national Council of credit (CNC) about the difficulties of banks to reclaim possession from their claims, to date, banks continue to give loans to clients, which reduce a banking liquidity estimated at 800 billion CFA francs.

In detail, the table presented by the CNC reveals the reasons of this fluctuation on the major banks operating in Cameroon: Afriland First Bank +123 billion f CFA, BGFI Bank +43 billion f CFA, SGC +36 billion f CFA, Ecobank +29 billion f CFA, Standard Chartered Bank +28 billion f CFA, UBA 12 billion f CFA CBC +10 billion f CFA, NFC-Bank +3.5 billion CFA. False notes, in Citi Bank gave 9.8 billion f CFA and UBC - 3 billion CFA.

In addition, there was an increase of approximately 15% of long-term credits, which, for financial analysts, is a good sign for the national economy, with the prospect of a strong and sustained growth over the years. In this segment, the subsidiaries of multinationals are faring rather well, both Bicec, the French BNP branch, Société Générale Cameroon, CBS, and the Moroccan Attijariwafa bank group subsidiary.

Many movements were also found regarding deposits, one from 2591 billion CFAF to 2 918 billion CFA francs, representing deposits for the same period, an increase of about 12%. It is clear that individuals take the topmost place with 1,152 billion of deposits, private companies are second with 712 billion of deposits, while SMEs close the market with only 234 billion CFA.

This position of SMEs which represent 95% of the economic fabric of the country once again demonstrates the difficulties felt by the promoters of small and medium-sized enterprises in accessing credit, which, naturally, has an impact on the deposits.

In all likelihood, the option taken by the public authorities to dock the new funding mechanisms, including bonds, recourse to the market of Government securities, allowed banks to take the measure of the changes underway, which could bring these banking institutions to be more flexible in the conditionality for the granting of credits.