With 78 subsidiaries or branches as of December 31, 2019, the main banking groups operating in the West African Monetary Union (WAMU), have extended their influence on the banking landscape of all EU countries, according to data from the Banking Commission, the Community banking supervisory body.

" They account for 77.0% of total balance sheets and 54.9% of ATMs, control 77.2% of ATMs (automated banking machines), hold 81.5% of customer bank accounts and employ 69.6% of agents in the banking system," the Commission said. In addition, these entities account for 83.9% of the overall net income of the banking system.

Data from the Banking Commission also indicate that 17 other smaller groups, holding less than 2% of the assets each, control 30 credit institutions, account for 8.8% of the assets, hold 6.2% of the locations, 5.7% of the ATMs, 3.9% of the customer bank accounts and employ 8.9% of the workforce. Their contribution to the overall net income of the banking system amounted to 5.6% at 31 December 2019.

During the period under review, 108 of the 148 banking institutions operating in WAMU, or 73.0%, are affiliated to 29 banking groups. " These entities account for 85.9% of bank assets, 61.1% of ATMs, 82.9% of ATMs, 85.4% of customer bank accounts, 78.4% of employees and make 89.5% of the overall net profit, "add the managers of the Banking Commission.

As for the number of active banking groups each holding at least 2% of the assets of the banking system, it came out at 12 during the period, as in 2018.

Geographically, the 29 banking groups come from WAMU, the Maghreb, the European Union, the West African Monetary Zone (WAMZ), the Economic Community of Central African States (CEMAC), the Southern African Development Community (SADC) and the rest of the world (WDM).

There are nine banking groups in WAMU (banks whose parent companies are located in the Union). These are Coris Bank International  in Burkina Faso,  Bridge Bank Group, NSIA Banque, SUNU in Côte d'Ivoire, - BDM  in Mali, Banque de Dakar Senegal and African Lease Group, ECOBANK and ORAGROUP in Togo.  which account for a total market share of 33.8%, hold 37 units in the Union, representing 22.7% of branches and 35.4% of ATMs, employ 26.4% of the workforce, account for 28.8% of customer bank accounts and 32.1% of deposits.

" They carry 30.7% of loans to customers and achieve 35.3% of overall net income," adds the Commission.

With an asset share of 30.2%, the seven banking groups in the Maghreb (BSIC, Libyan Foreign Bank of Libya, ABI, Attijariwafa bank, BOA of Morocco, BCI of Mauritania,  TLG Finance of Tunisia) present in the Union have 42 entities. They represent 26.1% of the branch network, 25.2% of ATMs and employ 30.1% of the workforce. They hold 35.2% of customer accounts, 29.3% of deposits and carry 30.7% of loans granted. " At the end of December 2019, underlines the Banking Commission, these institutions contribute 29.8% to the formation of the overall net income achieved by the banking sector".

The activity of these groups is dominated by Moroccan entities, with 25 credit institutions affiliated to three  groups in the top five. These institutions account for 26.1% of market share, 25.9% of deposits, 26.5% of loans granted to customers and 29.5% of overall net income. They represent 21.5% of locations, 20.0% of ATMs, 32.9% of bank accounts and 24.3% of staff.

The three European banking groups (BNP Paribas, Societe Generale de la  France and Standard Chartered Bank of the United Kingdom) with ten (10) subsidiaries, represent 14.6% of assets, 7.2% of the branch network, 14.4% of ATMs, 12.5% of customer accounts and 13.8% of the workforce. They mobilize 16.6% of deposits and are responsible for 17.6% of loans granted to customers. These entities generated 17.6% of the provisional net income of the banking sector.

Their activities are dominated by the two French banking groups, which account for a 14.0% market share, 16.0% of deposits, 17.2% of loans granted to customers and 17.3% of WAMU's overall net income.

With a market share of 3.1%, ZMAO's banking groups, three in number (First Bank, GTBank and UBA), come exclusively from Nigeria. Their seven  active banking units hold 3.0% of the branch network, 4.7% of ATMs, 7.4% of bank accounts and 4.9% of staff. They mobilise 3.5% of deposits and grant 2.1% of loans to customers in the Union. The contribution to the overall net income of the banking system is estimated at 3.8%.

The banking group originating from cemac (BGFIBank of Gabon) has three  banking entities that hold 0.4% of the branch network, 0.9% of ATMs, 0.1% of bank accounts and 1.0% of staff staff, mobilize 1.7% of deposits and are responsible for 2.2% of customer loans. Their assets represent 1.8% of the Union's total balance sheets. The overall net result of this group represents 0.1% of that of the Union.

The two  SADC banking groups (Standard Bank of South Africa and African Guaranted Fund, of Mauritius  whose operational headquarters are in Kenya), with two  credit institutions that hold 0.1% of the branch network and staff, mobilize 0.1% of deposits and are responsible for 0.1% of customer loans. Their assets represent 0.2% of the Union's balance sheet total. The overall net income of these groups came out in deficit.

There are four rdm banking groups (Tamweel Africa Holding of Saudi Arabia, Citigroup of the USA, Crédit Libanais of Lebanon and Afriland First Group of Switzerland). With a 2.2% market share, they hold seven  establishments, 1.7% of the branch network, 2.2% of ATMs, 1.3% of bank accounts and 2.1% of the workforce. These institutions represent 2.3% of deposits and 2.5% of loans to customers. They contributed 3.2% to the formation of overall net income.