By buying the International Bank for Trade, Industry and Agriculture of Burkina Faso (Biciab) the Vista group of Burkinabe Simon Tiemtoré gains a foothold in the WAEMU. The June 22 acquisition expands Vista's network of bank branches in Burkina Faso, which already included 22 branches in Guinea, 9 branches in The Gambia and 19 branches in Sierra Leone.

The Vista group founded and chaired by Burkinabe Simon Tiemtoré has acquired bnp Paribas' majority stake in Biciab. The acquisition expands Vista's network of banks in Guinea, Sierra Leone and The Gambia. And above all, allows the group to establish itself in the WAEMU space. Once the integration is complete, Biciab customers will benefit from Vista's core banking system as well as state-of-the-art digital and mobile banking products, services, features and solutions. According to the press release issued at the end of the transaction, Afreximbank supported the group in structuring the financing of this strategic acquisition by filling the gap created by the withdrawal of international banks from the African continent. The support provided by Afreximbank will also enable the new Vista Bank Burkina to provide extensive services to increase business opportunities and investment in the region.