CRDB Bank Burundi S.A.

In brief

Finnfund, the Finnish development financier and impact investor, and OeEB, the Development Bank of Austria, are jointly investing USD 25 million in CRDB Bank Burundi, a subsidiary of Tanzania’s largest bank, CRDB Bank Plc. The investment is supported by the European Fund for Sustainable Development Plus (EFSD+) guarantee, enabling financing in one of the world’s most vulnerable and underserved markets.

Main development impact

Burundi faces significant development challenges, with a poverty rate of 65% and GDP per capita the lowest in the world. Financial inclusion remains very low, with a reported 21% financial inclusion rate. This investment aims to address these gaps by expanding access to finance for micro, small and medium-sized enterprises (MSMEs), which face a combined USD 490 million financing gap in Burundi. The loan will support approximately 4,000 microenterprises and SMEs. At least 30% of the loan proceeds will be directed to women-owned enterprises, qualifying the investment under the 2X Challenge as a gender-smart initiative.

Investment details

Name: CRDB Bank Burundi S.A.
Project number: 80000451
Region: Africa
Country: Burundi
Sector: Financial institutions
Signing date (month/year): September 2025
Currency: USD
Finnfund's financing (commitment): 10,000,000
Instrument: Loan
Jurisdiction of registration: Burundi
Size of the project financing: 25,000,000
Share of Finnfund's financing (%): 40
Part of the European Fund for Sustainable Development Plus (EFSD+): MSME+
Status: Active
Website: https://crdbbank.co.bi/en/

Please note, that in principle, this information is given at the time of signature according to Finnfund's disclosure policy. However, in the case of investment funds, the share of Finnfund’s financing (%) is disclosed after the fund’s final closing, and information on the portfolio companies financed by the fund is updated at least once a year.

Key facts

Name:

CRDB Bank Burundi S.A.

Sector:

Financial institutions

Region:

Africa

Country:

Burundi

Currency:

USD

Finnfund's financing (commitment):

10,000,000

Signing date (month/year):

September 2025

Last update:

February 2026