The following are the top ten banking groups operating within the WAMU, according to the Central Bank of West African States.

1- Ecobank

With 14% share of the market in 2017, Ecobank, whose headquarters is in Lomé, is the most important banking group operating within the WAMU. Present in every country of the union, it has 9.2% of the desks, 18.5% of the automated tellers and 15.2% of the accounts. It also contributes 15.4% to the interim result in the banking system.

 2- Bank Of Africa

Constituted of eight banks and present in seven WAMU countries, Bank Of Africa (BOA) owned by the Moroccan BMCE is the second on this list with 10.5% of the total assets. It concentrates 10.8% of the desks, 9.8% of automated tellers, 16.7% of the bank accounts and generates 15.1% of the interim result.  

3- Société Générale

Société Générale is the third with 9.8% of the assets. Present in five WAMU countries, it gathers 5.8% of the desks, 8.9% of the automated tellers, 7.4% of bank accounts and 15.3% of interim result. Société Générale Côte d’Ivoire is the largest subsidiary in the union.  

4- Atlantic Business International (ABI)

At the fourth place comes Atlantic Business International (ABI), really active within the union with Banque Atlantique. (Togo First) - The west African subsidiary of Moroccan Banque Centrale Populaire (BCP), is present in every country of the union with eight subsidiaries and one branch office. ABI owns  9.6% of the market share, 8.2% of the desks, 7.4% of automated tellers and 7.5% of accounts. Its result in 2017 was 4.6% of the interim results.

5- Attijariwafa bank

The fifth group in this ranking, Attijariwafa bank confirms Morrocco’s leadership in the WAMU banking sector. It has six subsidiaries and three branches for 7.7% of assets. It has its name on 12.3% of the desks, 7.9% of the automated tellers, 9.2% of bank accounts. Its result is estimated to be 9.3% of interim results within WAMU.

6- NSIA Bank, ex-Diamond Bank

The Ivorian group NSIA Bank, which newly entered this segment acquired the assets of Diamond Bank in 2017. With Two subsidiaries and three branch offices, NSIA Bank is at the fourth place and represents 5.5% of assets, 5% of desks, 5.4% of automated tellers, 5.2% of bank accounts and 5.4% of interim results.

7- Coris Bank International

Burkina Faso’s group Coris Bank International (CBI) is the seventh most important banking group within the union with 5.3% of assets, 2.7% of desks, 2.2% of automated tellers, 3.4%  of bank accounts and 2.6% of interim result.  

8- Oragroup

The Lomé-based Oragroup is the eighth in the ranking and has 4.3% of assets, 3.8% of the desks, 3.2% of automated tellers, and 3.2% of bank accounts. The bank which announced its introduction on the stock exchange by February 2019 realised 6.5% of the union’s interim result in 2017.

9- BNP Paribas

First bank in the eurozone in 2016 and fifth international banking group, the French bank BNP Paribas is the penultimate of this top 10. Its market share was 4.1% by the end of December 2017. With four subsidiaries, the group owns 3.7% of desks, 4.8% of automated tellers, 3.4% of bank accounts and 5.2% of interim results.

10- BSIC

BSIC Bank has seven subsidiaries in the union, 2.9% of total assets, 4% of desks and 2.1% of bank accounts. The Libyan bank is the tenth banking group within WAMU.

Fiacre E. KAKPO