Against the backdrop of a difficult national economic and political climate, Ntambeng Cooperative Credit Union Limited (NtamCCUL) has emerged resilient, posting measurable growth and reaffirming its commitment to cooperative values. This remarkable shift in trend was unveiled during its 58th Annual General Assembly held at the Catholic Mission Hall in Ntambeng on Sunday, February 22, 2026.
Presenting the Management Report for the financial year ended December 31, 2025, the Board President, Ndonwi Derick Shu who doubles as the President of RECCU-CAM, NtamCCUL's Umbrella Microfinance organization, described the year as one of the most challenging in recent memory.
Cameroon’s tense electoral period, coupled with episodes of post-election unrest, prolonged lockdowns, and fluctuations in agricultural commodity prices, placed enormous pressure on households and businesses. These realities, according to him, translated into an unprecedented surge in savings withdrawals and a slowdown in fresh savings mobilization within the credit union.
Loan recovery also became more demanding as members struggled to meet repayment schedules. The decline in cocoa prices affected several branches in key producing areas, while falling maize and rice prices weighed heavily on operations in the northern regions. Despite operating under conditions that effectively reduced the productive year to ten months, Ndonwi Derick explained that NtamCCUL managed to preserve liquidity and safeguard institutional stability.
Yet amid the turbulence, the cooperative recorded notable progress as membership expanded significantly, rising from 33,854 in 2024 to 37,411 in 2025, a development management attributed to renewed strategic focus and strengthened member engagement. Share capital also increased considerably, growing from 396 million FCFA to 458.3 million FCFA. Management maintained its policy requiring members to build adequate shares before loan disbursement, a move designed to protect liquidity and deepen ownership participation.
Savings performance stood out as a particularly strong indicator. Total savings climbed from 2.93 billion FCFA in 2024 to 3.69 billion FCFA in 2025, representing a substantial increase despite the wider economic strain. Deposits, however, experienced a decline, dropping from 444.2 million FCFA to 348.07 million FCFA. The Board acknowledged the shortfall and expressed determination to reverse the trend in 2026.
The balance sheet expanded from 4.31 billion FCFA to 4.66 billion FCFA, reflecting steady asset growth. The cooperative closed the year with a surplus of 696,170 FCFA, an improvement over the previous year’s result. In line with its member-centred philosophy, 113,384,930 FCFA was allocated as interest to members at a rate of four percent. Heritage funds also rose sharply, signalling progress in strengthening institutional reserves and addressing inherited losses from prior years.
Beyond financial metrics, NtamCCUL continued to expand its national footprint. The institution now operates 13 branches, five counters, and several collection centers across nine regions of Cameroon. New counters were opened in Evoudoula in the Centre Region and Nkonjock in the Littoral Region, even as regulatory procedures for cooperative authorization remained complex. The union secured the land title for its Head Office in Ntambeng, recently valued at 50 million FCFA, and advanced investments in additional properties in Limbe, Buea, Tiko, and Kumba to consolidate its long-term presence.
Digital transformation remains central to the cooperative’s modernization agenda. Management confirmed that the long-awaited TEKSOL software system, coordinated through RECCU-CAM, is expected to be configured in 2026 following delays. Once operational, the platform is projected to enhance inter-branch connectivity, improve reporting systems, and reinforce financial security by reducing fraud and operational inefficiencies.
Governance matters also featured prominently at the assembly. Members renewed mandates within the Supervisory Board and Women’s Committee, while the Youth Committee welcomed new leadership. The continuity signalled institutional stability and member confidence in the cooperative’s direction.
General Manager Awah Eveline Mambo attributed the union’s sustained growth to a deliberate return to the founding principles of credit unionism which is helping people to help themselves. According to her, the “Board of Great Expectations” adopted a philosophy centred on listening closely to members, diagnosing financial challenges accurately, and delivering tailored solutions with empathy and transparency. She underscored what she described as a zero-tolerance stance on corruption across all branches, noting that integrity and teamwork distinguish NtamCCUL within the cooperative sector.
Among the innovations gaining attention is Diaspovest, also known as Diaspora Investment, a service designed to offer structured and reliable investment channels for Cameroonians abroad. Management believes the initiative will protect diaspora funds from informal risks while channelling capital into productive ventures under professional oversight. Traditional services such as savings and deposits, loans, school fee accounts, agropastoral financing, salary payments, daily savings, and mobile money services continue to anchor the union’s operations, supported by a customer-service model that emphasizes accessibility at all hours.
Looking ahead to 2026, Ndonwi Derick Shu, NtamCCUL Board President expressed confidence that lessons from a difficult year have strengthened the institution. Revealing that plans are underway to increase the balance sheet by at least twenty percent, eliminate external debt, intensify loan recovery efforts, provision inherited losses more aggressively, and complete digital integration across major branches.
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