Prime minister backs citizen-oriented banking
Tuesday 26 August 2025, the Atlantic breeze swept through the glass façade of BSCA Bank’s new Côte Sauvage branch as Prime Minister Anatole Collinet Makosso stepped inside. His presence underlined government support for banking initiatives that match the rhythm of local life in Pointe-Noire.
Welcomed by branch director Yannick Itoua, the premier toured the lobby, self-service kiosks and seaside terrace, pausing to greet clients queuing for the first cash withdrawals. “A citizen-minded bank is a pillar of our development agenda,” he said, applauding the institution’s customer-centric approach.
A decade of Sino-Congolese finance
Established in July 2015 as a joint venture between Congolese investors and Chinese partners, Banque Sino-Congolaise pour l’Afrique has climbed to the national top spot for customer deposits, according to figures shared by management and confirmed by regional banking analysts.
Over ten years the institution has grown from a single office in Brazzaville to a network spanning the capital, Pointe-Noire and Oyo. The Côte Sauvage site, opened on the eve of the bank’s anniversary, illustrates how bilateral cooperation is translating into tangible, job-creating assets.
High-tech service beside the Atlantic
The branch is the first on Congo’s shoreline, offering 24-hour, seven-day access to automated tellers, cash recyclers and account-opening tablets. Solar-powered exterior lighting and biometric authentication aim to speed up operations while reducing the carbon footprint and queue times.
Inside, an airy co-working corner allows entrepreneurs to draft invoices or consult export paperwork with on-site advisers. “We want customers to leave with both money and knowledge,” Itoua explained, noting that Pointe-Noire’s small traders often juggle fluctuating cash flows and complex customs procedures.
Côte Sauvage community feels the impact
At dawn, fishermen from the nearby Ngoyo district were already testing the cardless withdrawal option to split night-time earnings before heading to market stalls. “The machine speaks French and Kituba; it’s simple,” said Patrice Mavoungou, holding his printed mini-statement.
Neighbouring residents, accustomed to taking buses downtown for basic banking, welcomed the shorter walk. Retiree Félicité Louemba highlighted the security gains: “Carrying cash across town was risky. Now I feel safer and can check my pension any hour.”
Boosting Pointe-Noire’s diversified economy
Pointe-Noire remains the epicentre of Congo’s oil trade, yet city authorities are pushing tourism, fisheries and logistics to diversify income. By anchoring a branch in the leisure-oriented Côte Sauvage zone, BSCA Bank signals readiness to finance hotels, boatyards and refrigerated storage lines.
Local chamber of commerce head Martin Ngatsé believes the new office will unlock credit for the emerging blue economy. He pointed to pilot projects for seaweed processing and sport-fishing charters that need micro-loans between 10 million and 50 million CFA francs.
Toward deeper financial inclusion
Central Bank data set Congo’s current banked adult rate at roughly 26 percent. Government targets 50 percent by 2030, a goal that requires both digital tools and brick-and-mortar presence in previously underserved neighbourhoods like Côte Sauvage.
BSCA Bank’s mobile wallet, launched last year, already hosts 120 000 users. Linking that platform to physical kiosks is expected to shorten onboarding time to under four minutes, according to the bank’s technology chief Roger Li, opening the door for wage payments in the informal sector.
Jobs, training and green design
Beyond services, the branch created 32 direct jobs, including 18 graduates recruited from Marien-Ngouabi University. Staff underwent six months of bilingual customer-care training co-designed with the Chinese partner bank.
The two-storey building employs rainwater harvesting, low-energy air-conditioning and breeze-catching louvers. Architect Gaël Bemba said the design anticipates shoreline humidity and aims for a 30 percent cut in electricity consumption compared with conventional outlets.
Digital partnerships and diaspora flows
BSCA Bank signed memoranda with two Congolese fintech start-ups to pilot QR-code payments at the city’s beach restaurants, allowing tourists to settle bills directly from international cards linked to local mobile accounts.
Another agreement, finalised during the prime minister’s tour, drops remittance fees by half for the Congolese diaspora in Luanda and Paris. “Lower costs mean more family investments back home,” Makosso told journalists, urging expatriates to trust regulated channels.
Expansion plans underline steady confidence
Chief executive Zhang Wei disclosed that feasibility studies are advancing for outlets in Dolisie and Nkayi, as well as 40 additional smart ATMs along the N1 road corridor during 2026. The strategy seeks to keep deposit growth above 15 percent, in line with domestic GDP projections.
Standing on the branch balcony, the prime minister summed up the mood: “This view of the ocean reminds us that Congo looks outward with confidence.” His words captured a broader narrative—public authorities and private partners moving in concert to extend modern banking to every shore.