Question 1

What is Banque El Amana (BEA)?

Accepted Answer

Banque El Amana (BEA) is a commercial bank based in Mauritania that has evolved into one of the country's leading financial institutions. Originally created as a partnership between the Mauritanian State, commercial banks, companies, and private Mauritanian citizens, the bank operates as a universal banking institution serving individuals, professionals, SMEs, and large corporations.

BEA ranks as the tenth largest bank in Mauritania by assets and serves approximately 38,000 banking clients, with an additional 167,000 users of its digital wallet services as of 2024. The bank is 99% owned by businessman Ahmed Salem Bouna Moctar, with the remaining 1% held by other shareholders.

Question 2

When was Banque El Amana (BEA) founded?

Accepted Answer

Banque El Amana was founded in 1996 as a limited company under Mauritanian law. The bank was initially established to promote social housing in Mauritania, focusing on financing residential development projects for the country's growing population.

The institution underwent a major transformation in 2004 following the complete privatization of the former Banque de l'Habitat de Mauritanie. This privatization marked a pivotal moment in BEA's history, as the bank restructured itself from a specialized housing finance institution into a full-service commercial bank. Under the leadership of Mohamed Ahmed Salem Bouna Moctar, who serves as the Managing Director and Deputy General Manager, BEA has evolved to meet the changing needs of Mauritania's financial market while maintaining a commitment to excellence and innovation.

Question 3

Where is Banque El Amana (BEA) headquartered?

Accepted Answer

Banque El Amana is headquartered in Nouakchott, the capital city of Mauritania. The bank has expanded beyond its headquarters to establish a network of branches throughout the country, providing banking services to multiple regions.

Question 4

Where does Banque El Amana (BEA) operate?

Accepted Answer

Banque El Amana operates throughout Mauritania with a network of branches covering key regions of the country. The bank's branch network extends across several wilayas (administrative regions), including Nouakchott, Dakhla, Nouadhibou, Assaba, Trarza, and Hodh El Gharbi.

As of 2016, the bank operated 8 branches across the Mauritanian territory, strategically positioned to serve both urban centers and regional areas. This geographic presence allows BEA to serve diverse customer segments throughout the country.

Question 5

What services does Banque El Amana (BEA) offer?

Accepted Answer

Banque El Amana offers a comprehensive range of banking services as a universal bank. For individual customers, the bank provides personal accounts, savings products, consumer financing, and payment solutions. For businesses and institutions, BEA offers commercial banking services, trade finance, investment financing, and operational credit facilities.

The bank has distinguished itself in financing key sectors of the Mauritanian economy, including artisanal fishing, agri-food, trade, energy, telecommunications, construction, hydrocarbons, and agriculture. BEA also provides specialized financing for real estate projects and import-export operations.

Digital Banking Services: BEA has embraced digital transformation with the launch of its Amanty mobile application, which enables customers to conduct banking operations through their smartphones. The app provides services including account management, transfers, balance inquiries, and mobile payments available 24/7. As of 2024, the Amanty digital wallet had 167,000 users.

The bank also offers WhatsApp Banking services through CapitalDigital, allowing customers to perform banking operations via WhatsApp, including viewing account balances, making transfers between accounts, locating ATMs, and accessing product information. BEA provides electronic banking products, including prepaid cards that have won recognition, receiving the trophy for best prepaid card in North Africa at the Cartes Afrique Award.

The bank uses advanced core banking systems from Capital Banking Solutions, including CapitalBanker, CapitalClearing, CapitalCompliance, CapitalLending for loan management, and CapitalPayments for SWIFT message management and international transactions.

Question 6

What makes Banque El Amana (BEA) unique?

Accepted Answer

Banque El Amana distinguishes itself through several unique characteristics. The bank operates with an extensive network of prestigious international correspondent banks, including Société Générale Paris, UBAF, UBAE, Banco Popular, Bank of Tokyo (MUFG), BACB, Banque Cantonale de Genève, KfW, the European Investment Bank, Unicredit Italy, Wells Fargo, Caixa Bank, and Bankinter. This international network enables BEA to handle substantial volumes of domestic and international transactions with confidence and security.

BEA positions itself as a "solidarity bank," collaborating with renowned institutions and NGOs to distribute payments to vulnerable populations in both urban and remote areas, benefiting over 300,000 individuals. This social commitment demonstrates the bank's dedication to financial inclusion beyond traditional commercial banking.

The bank has received international support for its growth, including financing from the International Finance Corporation (IFC). In May 2025, IFC provided a $10 million trade finance line, followed by a $30 million senior financing agreement in November 2025 to support SME lending, with at least 25% of funds directed to women-owned or women-led businesses. The bank's SME credit portfolio is expected to grow from $200 million in 2024 to $526 million by 2029.

Question 7

What type of financial institution is Banque El Amana (BEA)?

Accepted Answer

Banque El Amana is a universal commercial bank (banque commerciale universelle) operating under Mauritanian banking law. The bank conducts all banking activities in accordance with banking law No. 95.011 dated July 17, 1995.

As a universal bank, BEA provides a full spectrum of financial services to multiple customer segments, including retail banking for individuals, commercial banking for businesses, investment financing, trade finance, and payment services. This universal banking model allows BEA to meet diverse financial needs across personal, professional, and institutional sectors in Mauritania.

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About Banque El Amana (BEA) in Mauritania