West African Economic and Monetary Union: Financial Depth and Macrostability
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Summary:
The financial system in the WAEMU remains largely bank-based. The banking sector comprises 106 banks and 13 financial institutions, which together hold more than 90 percent of the financial system’s assets (about 54 percent of GDP at end-2011). Five banks account for 50 percent of banking assets. The ownership structure of the sector is changing fast, with the rapid rise of foreign-owned (pan-African) banks. This contributes to higher competition but also rising heterogeneity in the banking system, with large and profitable cross-country groups competing with often weaker country-based (and sometime government-owned) banks. Nonbank financial institutions are developing quickly, notably insurance companies, but remain overall small. This paper presents a detailed analysis of the banking system.
Series:
Departmental Paper No. 2013/005
Subject:
Bank credit Banking Commercial banks Financial crises Financial institutions Financial markets Financial sector development Financial sector policy and analysis Financial services Stress testing
English
Publication Date:
October 22, 2013
ISBN/ISSN:
9781484348222/2616-5333
Stock No:
WFEMUEA
Pages:
45
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