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Cameroon: lending & credit regulation

Regulated

Cameroon lending regulated under CEMAC framework; COBAC oversight, no specific fintech license

Lead regulator:
Central African Banking Commission (COBAC)
Key law:
CEMAC Monetary and Financial Cooperation Act (1999) and COBAC Regulations
Last updated:
2026-07-12

Cameroon is a member of the Central African Economic and Monetary Community (CEMAC), where financial regulation is harmonized at the regional level. The Central African Banking Commission (COBAC) serves as the primary supervisor for credit institutions, including banks and microfinance institutions, rather than a national regulator.

Lending activities are governed by COBAC regulations covering liquidity, provisioning, and interest rate caps (Global Effective Rate). There is no distinct national licensing regime for non-bank lenders or fintech; such entities typically require authorization as credit institutions or microfinance entities under the CEMAC framework.

Recent regulatory focus has been on standardizing accounting, classifying non-performing loans, and repressing usury through the publication of banking conditions. No specific new legislation for digital lending or consumer credit startups has been identified in the provided documents.

Who regulates

  • Central African Banking Commission (COBAC)

    Regional supervisor for credit institutions in CEMAC member states including Cameroon

    [1][2][3][4]

Core laws & rules

  • CEMAC Regulation No. 04/19/CEMAC/UMAC/CM (2019)

    Defines rules for the Global Effective Rate (TEG), represses usury, and mandates publication of banking conditions and fees.

    [1]

  • COBAC Regulation R-2018/01 (2018)

    Standardizes classification, accounting, and provisioning of credit institution receivables, categorizing portfolios into healthy and sensitive.

    [2]

Licensing & registration

  • Credit Institution / Microfinance

    Authorization required under CEMAC framework for entities engaging in lending; no specific digital lending license identified.

    Low confidence — verify with the regulator before relying on this.

Restrictions & warnings

  • Usury is repressed via caps on the Global Effective Rate (TEG); institutions must publish banking conditions and fees.

    [1]

  • Strict provisioning and classification rules apply to non-performing loans and doubtful commitments.

    [2]

Direction of travel

  • Regulatory direction emphasizes transparency, usury repression, and standardized risk management across the CEMAC zone.

    [1]

Sources

  1. Regulation No. 04/19/CEMAC/UMAC/CM on the Global Effective Rate, Usury Repression, and Publication of Banking Conditions in CEMAC · 2020-12-21
  2. COBAC Regulation R-2018/01 on the Classification, Accounting and Provisioning of Credit Institution Receivables · 2018-03-05
  3. COBAC Instruction I-2015/01 Amending the Chart of Accounts for Credit Institutions · 2016-10-01
  4. COBAC Regulation R-94/01 Amending Article 2 of Regulation R-93/06 on Credit Institution Liquidity · 2000-04-03

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This guide is compiled automatically from 4 primary-source documents published by Cameroon's regulators, reviewed by RegAlert, and refreshed monthly (last updated 2026-07-12). It is not legal advice — always confirm requirements with the regulator or local counsel before acting.