(Business in Cameroon) – Liquidity demand from commercial banks in the Central African Economic and Monetary Community (Cemac) reached a record CFA706 billion during a liquidity injection operation conducted by the Bank of Central African States (BEAC) on September 23, 2025. The central bank had offered CFA600 billion to credit institutions, leaving demand unmet.
This surge in demand reflects the buoyant credit market during the back-to-school period across Cemac countries, when banks extend school-related loans. Bankers note that refinancing at the central bank window typically rises when credit demand outpaces the resources of commercial banks. Cameroon, home to 40% of the region’s banking network, is a key driver of this momentum.
The strong appetite for BEAC liquidity has been building since March 2025, when the central bank lowered its tender interest rate (TIAO)—the rate at which commercial banks refinance at the BEAC window. The move ended more than two years of tight monetary policy marked by successive TIAO hikes to curb inflation by restricting access to central bank refinancing and credit.
