Microfinance sector: Ntarinkon Credit Union retains top spot in CEMAC.

NtaCCUL which has been a serial award-winning microfinance institution was again in the spotlight on Saturday, September 19. This was during the third award night of the Cameroon English Newspapers Association, CENPA, in Douala.

The ceremony had in attendance people from all walks of life from across the country, Europe and America. The event was chaired by renowned international lawyer and peace crusader, Sir Dr Ntumfor Nico Halle. He praised the integrity of the awards and caliber of institutions and persons who made the final list.

During the event, NtaCCUL was unveiled as having enjoyed the highest endorsement of newspaper readers nationwide and cross the world to retain the spot of the top credit union within CEMAC. The jury awarded  Ntarinkon as “King of CEMAC Microfinance Institutions”. 

It said the decoration is for Ntarinkon Credit Union “being the first microfinance institution in the CEMAC Sub region to offer 6% interest on savings & introduction of GIMAC cards which has gone a long way to facilitate banking services”.

As one of the most coveted distinctions of the CENPA award night, a team of officials jointly handed the award to a powerful team from the Ntarinkon Credit Union that attended the event. NtaCCUL, Douche Branch Manager, Ngum Awasum.

The latest recognition, officials said, tells of the lead position that NtaCCUL holds across CEMAC with potential for extension across the African continent.

NtaCCUL among best Credit Unions in Africa

At a recent ceremony during which NtaCCUL was on the honour roll for its exploits, the General Manager of the microfinance institution, Divine Ade Muma, had disclosed that NtaCCUL has been rated among the best Credit Unions in Africa by the Confederation of African Credit Unions.

The dream, he insisted, is to see NtaCCUL becomes the top Credit Union in Africa, especially with its robust digitalisation system that is constantly being modernised.

Modernising, expanding amid increasing membership

With a membership that is above 120,000 and keeps growing, the GM noted that with a lot of queues noticed in all NtaCCUL branches, actions remain underway to attend to all clients in the best ways possible. 

Ade Muma said NtaCCUL has digitalised so much so that people can to stay in the comfort of their homes or office and engage transactions without necessarily going to any of the branches. 

“All our branches have ATM machines which enables clients of NtaCCUL to deposit money even in the night,” he had said. 

Positioned as the 7th largest credit union amongst the best Credit Unions in Africa, Ade Muma said “the biggest credit union in Africa has about 400,000 members and we are looking forward to beat that record in just a short time”.   

Not long ago, NtaCCUL launched the GIMAC card which has since been the talk of the town in the microfinance sector.

While NtaCCUL has implanted itself in many parts of the country, with the most recent being a branch in Adamawa Region, Ade Muma had also said the Credit Union is looking forward to expanding to other Regions of the country, especially the South, North and Far North. 

“We are already studying the situation and in five years NtaCCUL will cover all the 10 Regions of Cameroon,” he said. 

6% interest on savings, highest in sector

NTaCCUL, it should be noted, has also continued its stand of being the only microfinance institution in the CEMAC sub region which pays 6% interest on savings, which is the highest in the sector. 

It also charges the lowest interest on loans. The credit union has been hailed for this feat.  Experts in the microfinance sector have indicated that more people save in NtaCCUL because of the juicy 6% interest on savings. 

Why NtaCCUL remains the best in CEMAC

The President of the Board of Directors of NtaCCUL, Barrister Akuma Miranda Bih, had told reporters in July 2026, during the inauguration of the microfinance institution’s Bonamoussadi branch in Douala that its secret is unique.

“…we are the first not only in the country but in the CEMAC zone. The secret of our growth is about trust. It is about reliability, sustainability and it is about availability of cash. Liquidity that is readily available for our members each time they want it,” she had stated. 

She had also disclosed that in the last 10 years, NtaCCUL has bagged 38 national and international distinctions. These, Barrister Bih had declared, are for its innovations and pioneering extensive change in the microfinance sector across CEMAC.

Pumped in FCFA 52B to finance economy

The President of the Board of Directors had also disclosed that as part of NtaCCUL’s drive to power economic growth, the institution pumped in 52 billion FCFA in 2025 alone to support businesses. 

She explained that beyond granting such loans, NtaCCUL has remained the leader of digitalization with most of its services now rendered through the use of technology.

“…most interesting is the fact that we have gone digital…especially with the institution of the GMAC card which is one service that many financial institutions are not yet having,” Barrister Akuma noted, assuring the public that NtaCCUL, “…is progressing every day to meet the needs of our members”.

Figures that speak

On growth, the President of the NtaCCUL Board, said: “Our membership increased from 104,107 members in 2024 to 117,213 in 2025, giving an increase of 13,106 members in a year, with an increase rate of 13%”.

She said savings rose “from 56 billion FCFA to 66 billion FCFA, giving a 10 billion FCFA increase in a year, and loans granted in 2025 amounted to 52 billion FCFA. Our total assets also increased from 77 billion FCFA in 2024 to 91 billion FCFA in 2025, with an increase rate of 21%”.

NtaCCUL’s national network 

In the North West Region, NtaCCUL is present in Bamenda (Ntarinkon), Food Market (Nkwen) and Up Station. Yaounde counts several branches viz; Melen, Ekounou, Tsinga (Longkak), and Mendong. Meanwhile in Douala, the credit union has branches in Bonaberi, Akwa Douche, Ndokoti, Ndobo, and Bonamoussadi. 

Bafoussam counts one branch which is opposite Marché A while in the East Region, NtaCCUL is found in Bertoua opposite the Gendarmerie Legion.

The Ngaoundere branch was opened in 2025 covering the Adamawa Region. In the South West Region, NtaCCUL has branches at the Mile 17 Bus Station in Buea, Kumba, and Limbe.

This article was first published in The Guardian Post Edition No:3923 of Monday September 28, 2026