Camer360

NSIA Banque Côte d’Ivoire posted a net profit of CFAF 16.314 billion for the first half of 2025, up 12.3% year-on-year, as rising loans and strong deposit mobilization lifted earnings and balance-sheet momentum. The bank attributes the performance to a 9% expansion of the customer loan book—moving from CFAF 1,536bn in 2024 to CFAF 1,673bn at 30 June 2025 (including non-performing exposures)—and a 14% increase in customer deposits to CFAF 1,934.3bn, aided by gains in demand accounts (+18%), savings (+6%), term deposits (+7%) and guarantee deposits (+24%).

On the income side, Net Banking Income rose 10.6% to CFAF 50.5bn, powered by a 22% jump in net interest income to CFAF 34.4bn. Despite a mild 7.7% dip in fees and commissions, cost discipline kept operating expenses up just 6%, improving the cost-to-income ratio to 56.9% and reinforcing operating profitability. The balance sheet advanced 8% versus December 2024 to CFAF 2,709bn. Asset quality also firmed: performing exposures reached CFAF 1,668bn, while net non-performing loans declined 7% to CFAF 4.5bn, reflecting better recoveries and prudent risk management.

With this base, the NSIA Group is leaning into regional ambitions—most notably Cameroon, where leadership aims to replicate its bancassurance model. Group chairman Jean Kacou Diagou met Cameroon’s finance minister on 5 June 2025 to present two avenues: acquire a retreating subsidiary (market talk has often cited Société Générale Cameroun among possibilities) or launch a greenfield bank by 2026. NSIA also plans to deepen banking and insurance operations in Congo and Gabon, where it already has a footprint.

Takeaway: NSIA Banque CI exits H1 2025 with stronger earnings, a larger funding base and firmer asset quality—conditions that support its push to scale beyond Côte d’Ivoire, with Cameroon in near focus.