CEMAC: Bank Lending Rates Decline, Cameroon's Borrowing Costs Vary

Bank credit became cheaper across CEMAC in the second quarter of 2026. The average effective lending rate fell 1.42 percentage points to 10.94%, down from 12.36% at the end of March. Yet borrowing costs varied sharply across the six-country bloc, from 8.31% in Cameroon to 21.51% in Gabon. The figures come from the monetary policy report published in September by BEAC, the central bank of Cameroon, Congo, Gabon, Equatorial Guinea, Chad and the Central African Republic. At the end of March 2026, the average rate stood at 12.36%. The indicator, technically known as the overall effective rate, measures more than the nominal interest rate charged on a loan. It also includes other costs and commissions associated with the credit, providing a broader measure of what borrowers ultimately pay. The decline in the regional average was supported by lower borrowing costs in Cameroon, Chad and Congo, where effective rates remained below the CEMAC average during the quarter. The three other member states recorded rates above it. <p ...