Ranking best 15 commercial banks in Cameroon.

The financial institutions continue to function with oversight from the State and more importantly the Central African Banking Commission, COBAC, that regulates their work. 

They play important roles in powering growth through offering credits to individuals, businesses and receiving deposits from members of the public.

Even when it comes to key government investment decisions, commercial banks as prudent as they are- gauging risks, have become indispensable partners in driving fundraising. 

The entities are thus among the vital ingredients that account for economic resilience, especially for Small and Medium Sized Enterprises, SMEs. 

The banks operate with some stronger in certain aspects more than others. But within the banking spectrum and aggregates of their operations, Key Performance Indicators, KPIs, abound that oftentimes determine their classifications.

On the strength of such varied indicators, numerous research works have been conducted, based on outline criteria. This, has oftentimes see some banks appear at the top and at other times within the middle of rankings.

But one thing that continues to run through in most of such studies is that certain banking brands are the movers and shakers of the country’s financial system, offering varied services. 

For years, the National Economic and Financial Committee, CNEF, has alongside the banks data processing institution, CERBER, been updating the public on where financial institutions stand and their positives to the economy of Cameroon.

In the last three years, the same trends have continued, amid liquidity and inflationary pressures that linger with banks adopting innovative measures to thrive. 

While   performance data for 2025 is yet to be made public, the latest of assessments on commercial banks in Cameron was made public in July 2025. 

It was the work of Sagaci Research that runs the SagaBrand, which tracks over 2000 brands daily across the globe. The brand health tracker, released the ranking of commercial banks in Cameroon based on 25 Key Performance Indicators.

Aggregating the works of CERBER, CNEF, Sagaci Research in addition to recent dynamics within the country’s banking sector, projections are already being made about which bank occupies what position in the country’s banking sector. 

In the following analysis, the quality score of most banks in addition to their input into the economy, volume of deposits, number of branches nationwide, technology appropriation, accessibility of services, rapidity, customer care among others, point to their standing.

It is a picture of cast iron facts and the public’s perception weaved around an understanding of which banks are the best. 

To minimise the error margin, The Guardian Post has also revisited the situation of the financial institutions since 2022.

Who is who in the banking sector?

The best/first commercial bank in Cameroon undoubtedly is Afriland First Bank. It has remained on top spot consecutively for years. It has an outreach across the national triangle, counting over 80 branches.

In 2022, it was number one and retained the same position in 2023, with a balance sheet of 1.859 billion FCFA. 

In 2024, Afriland First Bank emerged first again with 1.382 billion FCFA pumped into various sectors to stimulate growth and wealth creation.

In the SagaBrand study of July this year, Afriland First Bank again came top. The study disclosed that the financial institution is the undisputed leader in Cameroon’s financial sector; with a quality score of beyond 71 percent and 73 percent positive rating from the public.

The leading commercial bank tops the chart in other aspects, not excluding Islamic Financing that is gaining grounds. It is also the bank that is investing the most in supporting SMEs, women-led ventures and raising credit for public sector investment projects.

On the second spot of top commercial banks is Société Générale Cameroun. Since 2022, figures of banks’ performance have seen it regularly come second. 

In 2023, its balance sheet was 1.453 billion FCFA. Statistics point to the same bank having given out loans of over 852 billion FCFA in 2024. The same bank is also among the top four in the Sagabrand ranking of July this year.

The third strongest commercial bank in Cameroon is AFC Bank Cameroun (formerly Atlantic Bank). 

In 2022, it was around spot number five among banks with the highest balance sheet. It moved up to third in 2023, with a balance sheet of 1102 billion FCFA. It gave out over 614 billion FCFA to businesses and individuals in 2024.  Today, it stands among the leading financial power houses in Cameroon.

On the fourth position comes Commercial Bank, which pumped over 567 billion FCFA into powering businesses in 2024.  It was among the first seven banks with the highest balance sheet in 2022, and 10banks in 2023.  Its closed 2023, with a balance sheet of over 654 billion FCFA.

SCB Cameroun, which invested over 456 billion FCFA into the economy in 2024, according to CNEC, is on the fifth position. 

Comparing the financial statements of banks in Cameroon in 2022, and 2023, it was on the fourth position. In 2023, its financial statement was over 848 billion FCFA.

The sixth strongest bank is BICEC. It gave out loans worth 456 billion FCFA in 2024. In terms of assets and liabilities, it was ranked third in 2022. In 2023, its balance sheet hit over 727 billion FCFA. 

Next on the ranking is the United Bank for Africa, UBA.  It comes seventh with a strong-performance indicator and a balance sheet of 794 billion FCFA in 2023; putting it on sport number six in that year. In 2022, it was also ranked 6^th. Its loan portfolio to the economy in 2024, was over 246 billion FCFA.

The eight best commercial bank is Credit Cammunaute d’Afrique, CCA Bank. Its contribution through credits in 2024, was 381 billion FCFA.  Its balance sheet in 2023 was over 651 billion FCFA; earning it the 7^th spot. CCA was ranked 9^th in 2022. At the close of this financial year, its performance is expected to further push it up the performance ladder.

Pan-African financial institution, Ecobank, with a financial statement that ticked 524 billion FCFA and above two years ago, was on ninth post in 2023. 

Ecobank is ranked the ninth most influential bank in the country. In terms of assets and liabilities, CNEF had put it on spot number eight in 2022.  Last year, its offers into the economy through loans crossed the threshold of 180 billion FCFA.

BGFIBANK Cameroun, which supported economic growth in 2024, with over 438.6 billion FCFA, is on position number 10 of the most performant banks in Cameroon.  Its balance sheet in 2023, was over 594 billion FCFA; earning the eight spot that year up from 10^th in 2022.

The National Financial Credit Bank, NFC is classified on the 11 spot in terms of service quality and force on the country’s banking map.  Its assets and liabilities in 2023, were summed at 154.2 billion FCFA and ranked on the 12th position that year, up from emerging 13^th on the same criteria in 2022. In 2024, it pumped over 94 billion FCFA into the economy.

CITIBANK, whose credits to individuals and businesses in 2024, reached 95.6 billion FCFA, is the 12^rd most attractive bank in Cameroon. Its financial statement in 2023, was within the neighourhood of 550 billion FCFA and was ranked 11^th. 

The 13^th most influential bank on the market is the Cameroonian Subsidiary of the Equato Guinean financial institution, BANGE BANK. It offered credits valued at 53 billion FCFA in 2024. Its financial statement in 2023, was around 67 billion FCFA. 

La Regional Bank is on the 14^th position, with 31 billion FCFA invested into various sectors of the Cameroonian society last year. 

Union Bank of Cameroon, UBC, comes 15^th. In 2024, it gave out loans worth over 24 billion FCFA to finance various undertakings.  In terms of balance sheet, it emerged on the 14^th spot in 2022 and 2023.

This article was first published in The Guardian Post Edition No:3645 of Thursday December 04, 2025