Who We Are

Since 1952, the Congolese Bankers Association (ACB) has brought together all banking institutions operating in the Democratic Republic of Congo. 
As an independent professional body, the ACB acts as a bridge between its members, public authorities, and both national and international partners, working to foster a stable, ethical, and competitive banking sector.

our history

 

Step 1

The inception of the ACB comes at the hands of Congo's major banks, in alignment with Congolese legislation. The ACB manifests as a non-profit association of licensed banks operating in the Democratic Republic of the Congo, established as the "Association Congolaise des Banques".

10/30/1952
 

Step 2

DRC achieves its independence on June 30.

06/30/1960
 

Step 3

The banking sector witnesses a swift expansion under new regulatory frameworks. The membership of the ACB escalates from 6 to 22 within four years.

02/10/2006
 

Step 4

The ACB plays a pivotal role in executing the government's initiative to massively bank civil servants throughout the nation, leading to the creation of more than 1 million bank accounts within a few months.

03/14/2011
 

Step 5

In adherence to its financial inclusion mandate, the ACB aids the government in crafting and executing the national strategy for financial inclusion.

10/30/2021

standing bureau

Marie-Gabrielle Opese

President

Marie-Gabrielle Kalenga Opese has led Standard Bank DRC since April 2023. With over three decades of experience in finance, she spearheads the strategy of the Congolese subsidiary of the leading pan-African banking group and drives its expansion in the country. Recognized for her strong ethical principles and vision, she was elected president of the Congolese Banking Association in March 2024, becoming the first woman to hold this position. Her career illustrates a consistent commitment to operational excellence, innovation, and responsible growth within the Congolese banking sector.

Henri WAZNE

1st Vice President

A lawyer by training, a graduate of the University of Nice Sophia-Antipolis, Henry Wazne has headed Sofibanque since 2012. Heir to a family line established in Africa for three generations, he has leveraged over twenty-three years of expertise in international trade to elevate the bank to the third-largest player in Congo and to create, in 2019, the insurance subsidiary SFA. A strong advocate for financial inclusion, he has served as the first vice-president of the Congolese Banking Association since 2016 and represents the Lebanese community within the economic landscape of the DRC.

Alassane SORGO

2nd Vice President

With over twenty-five years of experience within the Ecobank group, Alassane Sorgho took the helm of Ecobank DRC in 2022. He joined in 1999 as Head of Operations at ETI headquarters and subsequently held key financial control positions in West Africa before leading the Chadian subsidiary. A graduate of INP-HB Yamoussoukro with a Master's in Accounting and Financial Sciences (University of Abidjan), complemented in Nice, he brings recognized expertise in risk management and operational transformation.

Willy K. Mulamba

3rd Vice President

Willy K. Mulamba took over Equity BCDC in November 2024 after having led Citibank DRC and presided over the Congolese Banking Association. With over twenty years of international experience, this expert in governance and risk management is tasked with accelerating the growth of the country's second-largest bank, which boasts a balance sheet of USD 4.4 billion. Holding Master's degrees in Banking and Finance (Paris-Saclay), Applied Economics (Liège), and Economic Sciences (North Texas), he combines strategic vision with a thorough knowledge of Congolese markets to strengthen financial inclusion.

Célestin TSHIBWABWA

General Secretary

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Christine MBUYI

Deputy General Secretary

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Oliver MEISENBERG

Affiliated bureau member

A German native, Oliver Meisenberg has led Trust Merchant Bank, the leading financial inclusion bank in the DRC, since 2009. Under his impetus, TMB has built the most extensive banking network in the country and holds nearly 20% of the market share. A champion of SME financing, he introduced innovative leasing products and launched the mobile platform Pepele Mobile in 2015, foreshadowing local digital banking. His leadership, focused on proximity and innovation, has earned TMB several international distinctions, particularly in financial inclusion.

Mustafa RAWJI

Affiliated bureau member

Born in Kinshasa, Mustafa Rawji co-founded Rawbank in 2002 before becoming its General Manager in May 2020. With a Master's degree in Finance from Babson College (Boston), he began his career at Calyon Geneva and then Crédit Agricole Paris, before joining HSBC Dubai, where he deepened his knowledge of international markets. Returning to the DRC in 2009, he successively climbed the ranks of the leading Congolese bank, overseeing strategy, credit, and infrastructure. His leadership combines innovation, governance, and active support for local entrepreneurship.

former presidents

Pascal Kinduelo

1st President

A true figure of Congolese capitalism, Pascal Kinduelo Lumbu (born in 1938) built his fortune by founding the Banque Internationale de Crédit and then by presiding over BGFI Bank RDC. President of the Congolese Banking Association in the early 2000s, he also co-founded Vodacom Congo and diversified his activities into oil (Sud Oil) and investment (Kwanza Capital). Nicknamed "the Republic's financier," the senator from Kongo Central is still lauded for his role in banking access and the training of a class of local entrepreneurs.

Michel Losembe

2nd President

Former General Manager of Banque internationale pour l'Afrique au Congo (BIAC), Michel-Emery Losembe Botumbe has nearly thirty years of banking career in Africa. He joined Citibank in 1988, where he held regional treasurer positions before returning to the DRC to restructure BIAC after the civil war. President of the Congolese Banking Association from 2006 to 2016, he led the "banking" campaign for public salaries and continues to advocate for financial inclusion and the modernization of the sector.

Yves Cuypers

3rd President

A Belgian native, Yves Cuypers led the Banque Commerciale du Congo (BCDC) for seventeen years before orchestrating its merger with Equity Bank in 2020. In February 2021, Equity Group Holdings appointed him as the first Regional Director for Central and Southern Africa, responsible for driving the group's expansion outside East Africa. With over thirty years of experience and solid expertise in risk management and compliance, this builder now supports the digital transformation and inclusive growth of Equity BCDC across the region.

Willy K. Mulamba

4th President

As a former president of the Congolese Banking Association, Willy K. Mulamba led significant governance reforms and payment interoperability initiatives while simultaneously heading Citibank DRC. With over twenty years of international experience and three Master's degrees in finance and economics (Paris-Saclay, Liège, North Texas), he advocated for broader access to credit for SMEs and for the professionalization of the sector. His leadership style, focused on rigor and transparency, continues to inspire the new generation of Congolese bankers.

our members

our stakeholders