
The NSIA and Orange groups are joining forces in a project to create a digital bank. The information that has been running for a few months has been confirmed by Jean Kacou Diagou, the president of the Ivorian group, in an interview published this November 5th.
“We have just concluded a strategic agreement with the Orange group for the creation of a digital bank. This is a new adventure alongside a major player, leader in its sector of activity, which will accelerate the banking in our countries, “he said.
According to some indiscretions, the partnership should rely on the Diamond Bank network acquired by the NSIA group at the end of last year for the start of the project, particularly in Côte d’Ivoire. A deal that could be inspired by the model adopted by Orange Bank.
As a reminder, since the end of 2017 Orange has launched Orange Bank, a 100% digital bank in Europe. The telecommunication group then took control of the capital of Groupama Banque, which later adopted the name Orange Bank.
Orange, who is surfing the mobile money boom, will therefore take another step in the African financial sector. In Côte d’Ivoire, where it dominates the mobile telephony sector, the operator has 14.6 million customers (43% of the market) and 6.2 million mobile money subscribers (according to data from the ARTCI regulator end of June 2018).