Ecobank is committed to providing the underbanked and the unbanked poor with access to finance.
In partnership with other stakeholders, Ecobank launched one of the biggest microfinance banks in Nigeria in 2007. We subsequently opened a branch in Ghana. In 2008 we expanded the microfinance bank network to Senegal, Benin and Cameroon. Ecobank and its partner ACCION, a global leader in microfinance, plan to launch microfinance operations in 20 countries in the next five years.
Ecobank also acts as banker to microfinance institutions in the countries in which we operate. We support over 200 microfinance institutions with wholesale loans and other products.
We believe that prospects remain very bright for the microfinance sector, which is arguably larger than the traditional banking sector.