Tycoon Idrissa Nassa looks to establish Coris Bank in Gabon

Coris Bank founder Idrissa Nassa has met Gabon President Brice Clotaire Oligui Nguema in Libreville, as the Burkina Faso founded banking group moves ahead with plans to establish operations in Gabon.

The meeting took place on Thursday at the presidential palace and focused on economic and financial cooperation. Nassa attended with members of his delegation and used the visit to reaffirm the bank’s intention to enter the Gabonese market.

Gabon’s presidency welcomed the planned expansion, describing it as a sign of investor confidence in the country’s economic prospects and in government efforts to improve the business climate and attract capital.

Nassa said Coris Bank wants to build a lasting presence in Gabon, and provide financing for priority projects across Gabon as part of a broader effort to position itself as a long term partner for both public development policies and private sector initiatives.

Coris Bank was founded in Burkina Faso and has expanded over time into a regional banking group with a growing footprint in West and Central Africa. The bank is active in several countries including Ivory Coast, Mali, Togo, Benin, Senegal, Niger and Guinea Bissau.

If the expansion goes ahead as planned, Coris Bank’s arrival would add a new player to Gabon’s banking sector and increase competition in financial services and broaden financing options for businesses and households while strengthening the country’s financial landscape.

Authorities also presented the project as a potential source of direct and indirect jobs, skills development and additional support for sectors considered strategic by the government. In practical terms, a new banking entrant can affect credit access, pricing and service availability, especially if it targets corporate lending and small business financing.

Nassa’s visit comes at a time when African banking groups are looking for growth beyond their home markets while governments seek lenders that can back infrastructure, enterprise and wider economic activity.