Regulatory Alerts2026-01-01
Circular No. 14/M/26 on the Registration and Operation of Community Financial Groups, Their Management Committees, and Internal Savings and Credit Group Supervisors under Microfinance Regulation No. 001/2018
The Central Bank of the Republic of Burundi has issued Circular No. 14/M/26 to revise the regulatory framework governing the registration, operation, and supervision of Community Financial Groups (CFGs), their management and supervisory board members, and the bodies that initiate and oversee Internal Savings and Credit Groups (ISCGs). The circular establishes strict eligibility criteria, including a minimum capital of 50 million BIF and membership limits of 30 to 300, while mandating comprehensive documentation for registration and ongoing quarterly and annual reporting via the BSA application. It further prohibits CFGs from accepting public deposits or granting loans to the general public, outlines procedures for institutional transformation into higher-tier microfinance institutions, and requires all affiliated professional associations to submit their statutes and annual activity plans for central bank approval.