Access Bank Cameroon has unveiled Access Invest, a fully digital investment platform that enables individuals, businesses, and institutional investors to buy and sell government securities across the six-member Economic and Monetary Community of Central Africa (CEMAC).
The platform was officially launched at the bank’s head office in Douala on Tuesday, August 11, 2026, marking what the bank describes as a significant step toward democratizing access to capital markets in a region where high-net-worth individuals and large institutions have traditionally dominated investment opportunities.
According to bank management, Access Invest targets a broad range of clients, from individual savers and SMEs to corporate and institutional investors. The platform provides digital access to Treasury Bills (BTA), Treasury Bonds, and Treasury Obligations (OTA) issued by member states of the economic bloc, including Cameroon, Gabon, the Republic of Congo, the Central African Republic, and Chad.
For the first time in the region, investors will be able to access the secondary market for government securities through a digital interface, providing greater liquidity and real-time visibility into investment opportunities that were previously accessed largely through manual processes.
Speaking at a press conference to unveil the platform, Ugochukwu Irechukwu, Access Bank Cameroon Deputy Managing Director, said the initiative is aimed at extending financial solutions beyond traditional banking channels.
“It is a desire to make people access financial solutions and offers anywhere they are; whether in rural places, in town, or in their offices,” Irechukwu said.
At the heart of Access Invest is a mission to empower ordinary Cameroonians and other CEMAC citizens to save, invest, and build wealth.
“Our slogan for this initiative is, ‘your money has a future,’” Irechukwu explained. “We want to make sure that you’re able to save for tomorrow, whether it is for your children’s school, for your business, or for your retirement, to invest in those kinds of solutions that will help you build wealth.”
Beyond providing access to securities, the platform includes educational resources, investment simulators, and personalized guidance intended to help users understand investment products, estimate potential returns, and make informed decisions.
Bridging the intermediation gap
One of Access Invest’s key features is its focus on financial intermediation, providing liquidity and support to investors who may have the appetite to invest but lack sufficient capital to participate directly in the securities market.
Responding to questions from journalists about how the bank intends to support investors, Irechukwu said the institution would help bridge that gap.
“People sometimes have desires for investment, but they do not have the capital or funding. We want to do that intermediation for them, support them, go along with them, provide that liquidity in a very good way for them to be able to invest and to be able to make returns on investment,” he said.
The bank says it has already developed programs for different client segments, including salaried workers and employees of government-owned entities, allowing them to access funds and invest through structured products.
Digitalizing a traditionally manual process
Jean Petnga, Head of Treasury at Access Bank Cameroon, said the platform is intended to modernize the region’s financial infrastructure and simplify access to the money market.
“To all Access Bank Cameroon customers, this platform will enable you to have direct access to the money market, to find investment opportunities in Treasury Bills (BTA), Treasury Bonds, and Treasury Obligations (OTA) from CEMAC zone countries,” Petnga said.
He said the decision to focus on the secondary market was strategic, as the bank seeks to contribute to the development of the CEMAC money and financial markets.
“It is part of our mission to develop the money market and the financial market of the CEMAC zone that we have set up this platform, which will enable us to digitalize the entire process, which today, for the most part, is still manual,” Petnga said.
Onboarding and accessibility
Access to the platform is designed to minimize barriers to entry. According to Petnga, existing Access Bank Cameroon customers, as well as new users, can register through a link available on the bank’s digital channels.
“Even if you don’t have an existing account, you will be able to access the platform by registering, opening a securities account, and initiating your transactions,” he explained.
The low-barrier onboarding process is expected to broaden the investor base in Cameroon and potentially across the CEMAC region, where financial inclusion remains a challenge.
Access Bank Cameroon said Access Invest will be rolled out progressively, with initial access granted to existing customers before the platform is opened more broadly to the public.
The bank is also exploring partnerships with regulatory bodies, stock exchanges and fintech providers to enhance the platform’s capabilities while ensuring compliance with regional financial regulations.
