Question 1

What is RCPB?

Accepted Answer

RCPB (Réseau des Caisses Populaires du Burkina) is the largest and oldest microfinance institution in Burkina Faso. It is a cooperative network of savings and credit unions operating across the country.

The network comprises 35 affiliated credit unions (caisses populaires) with over 212 points of service distributed across all 45 provinces of Burkina Faso. With more than 1,200 employees and approximately 860,000 members, RCPB serves as the leading financial inclusion institution in the country, providing accessible financial services to communities that are often underserved by traditional banks.

Question 2

When was RCPB founded?

Accepted Answer

The first caisse populaire was established in 1972 in the Bougouriba region in southwestern Burkina Faso. The credit union experience was imported from Ghana and created significant enthusiasm among local populations.

The initial development was supported by Développement International Desjardins (DID), formerly known as Compagnie Internationale de Développement Rural Canada (CIDR). The first credit unions were established in the towns of Diébougou, Koper, and Dissin.

The concept of a unified "Network" emerged in 1985 when the experience expanded to the Centre and Nord regions of Burkina Faso. The Faitière des Caisses Populaires du Burkina (FCPB), the coordinating federation structure, was officially created in June 1998 and obtained its regulatory approval in June 2013.

Question 3

Where is RCPB headquartered?

Accepted Answer

RCPB's coordinating body, the Faitière des Caisses Populaires du Burkina (FCPB), operates through three regional technical directorates located in major cities across Burkina Faso.

The Centre and Nord Technical Directorate is headquartered in Ouagadougou, the national capital. The Ouest and Sud-Ouest Technical Directorate is based in Bobo-Dioulasso, the country's second-largest city. The Est Technical Directorate is located in Koupéla.

Question 4

Where does RCPB operate?

Accepted Answer

RCPB operates throughout Burkina Faso, with presence in all 45 provinces of the country. The network maintains over 212 points of service including branches (agences) and service windows (guichets) distributed across the entire national territory.

Major operational centers include Ouagadougou, Bobo-Dioulasso, Koupéla, Kaya, Dédougou, Banfora, Tenkodogo, Kongoussi, Yako, Gaoua, Po, and Bogandé. The network particularly focuses on reaching rural and peri-urban communities where traditional banking services are limited or absent.

Question 5

What services does RCPB offer?

Accepted Answer

RCPB offers a comprehensive range of financial products and services adapted to the needs of its member-owners:

Savings Products: Diversified savings accounts designed to be accessible, secure, and profitable, including retirement savings plans and digital savings options.

Credit Products: Various loan products tailored to finance personal and business projects, including agricultural credits, microenterprise financing, and commercial loans. As of December 2024, the network maintained a credit portfolio of approximately 132 billion CFA francs (about 200 million USD).

Digital Financial Services: GIM UEMOA prepaid cards, electronic wallets, and the Intercaisse digital platform for mobile banking and money transfers.

Insurance Products: Retirement savings plans, family protection assistance, education annuities, and sponsored accounts.

Non-financial Services: Technical and market-oriented training for farmers, microfinance expertise development through the PAMEF program, and advisory services for members.

Question 6

What makes RCPB unique?

Accepted Answer

RCPB distinguishes itself through its cooperative governance model based on democratic principles where account holders become member-owners with equal voting rights. This "one member, one vote" principle ensures democratic decision-making regardless of the amount of capital contributed.

The institution is one of the oldest cooperative credit networks in Africa, with over 50 years of continuous operation since 1972. Its extensive reach across all 45 provinces makes it the most widespread financial network in Burkina Faso, surpassing traditional commercial banks in geographic coverage.

RCPB pioneered financial inclusion in rural Burkina Faso, bringing banking services to remote villages and agricultural communities that had never been served by formal financial institutions. The network is governed by Law 023 AN 2009 of May 14, 2009, which regulates cooperatives in Burkina Faso.

The institution maintains strong ties to the international cooperative movement and is affiliated with the Confédération des Institutions Financières - Afrique de l'Ouest (CIF-AO), which groups six networks of mutual and cooperative savings and credit institutions within the West African Economic and Monetary Union (UEMOA).

Question 7

What type of financial institution is RCPB?

Accepted Answer

RCPB is a Système Financier Décentralisé (SFD) or decentralized financial system, which is the regulatory classification in Burkina Faso for microfinance institutions. More specifically, it operates as a cooperative savings and credit network (réseau de coopératives d'épargne et de crédit).

Under West African banking regulations supervised by the Commission Bancaire de l'UMOA, RCPB is classified as a large-scale decentralized financial system. The institution is structured as a two-tier cooperative: the base-level caisses populaires (credit unions) that serve members directly, and the Faitière (federation) that provides coordination, supervision, technical support, and representation functions.

This cooperative structure differentiates RCPB from commercial banks and traditional microfinance institutions, as members are simultaneously customers and owners of their local credit union. The democratic governance includes elected boards of directors, supervisory councils, and credit committees at both the individual credit union and federation levels.

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About RCPB in Burkina Faso