Gabonese microfinance institutions and their small loans
In Gabon, microcredit is provided by about twenty licensed microfinance institutions, led by Finam, Loxea, EDG and Express Union, which lend from a few hundred thousand to a few million CFA francs to traders, low-income employees and small entrepreneurs.
Twenty licensed microfinance institutions in Gabon
In April 2022, the Ministry of Economy published the list of the twenty MFIs authorised to operate, in order to protect depositors from illegal outfits. Only these institutions, supervised by the COBAC, may collect savings and grant microloans.
Four players serving most clients
Finam, Loxea, Épargne et Développement du Gabon and Express Union, a subsidiary of the Cameroonian group of the same name, account for about 91% of the sector's clients. Their branches are mainly located in Libreville, Port-Gentil, Franceville and Oyem.
Clients who are employees, traders and students
Quarterly reports on Gabonese microfinance identify three main profiles: low-income employees, traders in markets such as Mont-Bouët or Nkembo, and students. Outstanding loans grew by 5.5% in the third quarter of 2025.
The FGIS Okoumé Capital programme
Okoumé Capital, a subsidiary of the Gabonese Strategic Investment Fund, signed an agreement in July 2023 with EDG, Cofina, SFE, Finam and Sodec. It announced loans of 200,000 to 1.5 million CFA francs at 6% a year including tax.
Eligibility for the Okoumé Capital scheme
According to the 2023 announcement, the programme was reserved for Gabonese nationals, sole traders or managers of very small, small and medium firms, in all nine provinces. Applicants also had to meet the criteria of the partner MFI chosen to process the file.
Prior savings and group guarantees
Most MFIs require you to open an account, save regularly for several weeks and sometimes make a blocked deposit. A joint guarantee, an endorsement or a pledge on equipment can replace conventional bank collateral.
Microcredit by phone: Airtel Money, Dibot and SFE
Finam has partnered with Airtel Money since May 2023, EDG has developed the Dibot app and SFE presents itself as the country's first digital MFI. These tools make deposits and repayments easier without travelling to a branch.
Rates and cost of a Gabonese microloan
MFI rates are generally higher than bank rates, because of the small amounts and monitoring costs. According to end-2025 data, the rates charged remained stable compared with the level observed in June.
Financing a small shop or workshop
Seamstresses, food sellers, small restaurant owners and phone repairers form the core target. For a more structured business with RCCM registration, bank options are presented on the page about the business loan in Gabon.
Agricultural microcredit in the interior
Outside the towns, few MFIs finance food crops or cocoa in Woleu-Ntem, for lack of a branch network and collateral. Schemes dedicated to rural areas are detailed on the page about the Gabonese farmer loan.
Unlicensed microfinance and past failures
In 2016, a survey found that a large majority of microfinance outfits were operating without a licence, and the state has since withdrawn licences. Before depositing savings, check that the institution appears on the official list.
Cameroon, a denser microfinance market
Neighbouring Cameroon has far more MFIs, with long-established cooperative networks reaching into villages and a much wider rural clientele. The page about microcredit in Cameroon lets you compare that sector with the more concentrated Gabonese market.
Getting a microloan from a Gabonese MFI
- Check that the institution is on the list of licensed MFIs published by the Ministry of Economy and supervised by the COBAC.
- Open a savings account and make regular deposits for the minimum period required by the MFI.
- Present your activity to the loan officer: turnover, stock, customers and the precise financing need.
- Gather the guarantors or joint guarantee requested and agree to a visit of the shop or workshop.
- Sign the contract, receive the funds in the account or by mobile money and keep to the weekly or monthly schedule.
What a microloan costs in Gabon
| Item | Benchmark | Factors of variation |
|---|---|---|
| Okoumé Capital programme | 200,000 to 1.5 million CFA francs at 6% incl. tax, announced in 2023 (indicative) | Availability of the programme and partner MFI |
| Rate of a standard microloan | Higher than bank rates | Amount, term, type of guarantee |
| Arrangement fees | Percentage of the loan or flat fee | MFI policy |
| Compulsory savings | Share of the amount to be blocked | Client profile and history |
| Mobile money repayment fees | Operator commission | Airtel Money, Moov Money or branch |
Standard file for a Gabonese microloan
- National identity card or passport
- Proof of address or a location map of the business
- Sales book, invoices or mobile money transaction statement
- Business licence or authorisation to trade if the activity is registered
- Identity documents of the guarantors or members of the solidarity group
- Recent passport photos
Common mistakes with microfinance in Gabon
- Depositing savings in an outfit missing from the official list of licensed MFIs, at the risk of losing everything if it closes.
- Using a business microloan for a family expense, which leaves the activity without cash to meet the instalments.
- Borrowing from several MFIs at the same time, a practice now visible through the Creditinfo Central Africa bureau.
- Paying fees to a fake agent claiming to represent the Okoumé Capital programme, when files only go through the partner MFIs.
Lenders to contact
- Ecobank Gabon: Gabonese subsidiary of the pan-African Ecobank group, offering personal banking services and financing solutions for businesses and small enterprises.
- Union Gabonaise de Banque (UGB): Gabonese commercial bank and subsidiary of the Attijariwafa bank group, serving individuals and businesses with banking services and loans.
Gabonese microfinance: borrowers' questions
How many microfinance institutions are licensed in Gabon?
The list published in April 2022 by the Ministry of Economy contained twenty licensed MFIs. Finam, Loxea, EDG and Express Union serve most clients, while several small institutions remain active locally.
Is the Okoumé Capital programme still open?
It was launched in July 2023 with five partner MFIs. Its current availability and remaining funds should be checked directly with EDG, Cofina, SFE, Finam or Sodec before taking any steps.
Do you need to be Gabonese to get a microloan?
Not for a standard microloan, which MFIs can grant to foreign residents. However, the Okoumé Capital scheme announced in 2023 was reserved for Gabonese citizens and businesses owned by Gabonese nationals.
Can you repay a microloan through Airtel Money?
Several MFIs allow it, notably Finam through its partnership with Airtel Money. Keep every confirmation text and check that the payment does appear on the institution's account statement.