While major pan-African banking groups are banking on a sprawling presence, Yérim Sow, the Senegalese entrepreneur at the helm of Teyliom, prefers a niche, profitable, and targeted strategy. His financial arm, Bridge Group West Africa (BGWA), based in Côte d'Ivoire with an expansion into Senegal, stands out as an atypical model, according to information from Jeune Afrique. This approach has been praised by experts and is driven by solid results.

Founded in 2006, Bridge Bank Group Côte d'Ivoire (BBGCI) is the 12th-largest bank in WAEMU, with a balance sheet of 748 billion CFA francs (1.1 billion euros) in 2023. Far from leaders like Société Générale Côte d'Ivoire (more than a million accounts), it targets investment banking and wealthy individuals, with 28,700 hand-picked clients. "Bridge Bank chooses the safest and most solvent SMEs," acknowledges an Ivorian competitor. The result: a profit of 20 billion CFA francs in 2023 (+13% year-on-year), twice the regional average, and an operating ratio of 45%, compared to 66% in Côte d'Ivoire and 73.1% in WAEMU.

With 608 billion CFA francs in deposits and 457 billion CFA francs in loans, it ranks 21st in the region for these indicators, despite a network limited to 13 branches. This profitability appeals to donors: in March 2025, the International Finance Corporation injected $40 million to finance SMEs, followed by the AfDB (€30 million) and Swedfund ($5 million).

A praised vision

Yérim Sow, the architect of this success, is celebrated for his audacity. Hichem Ghanmi of AfricInvest, a former shareholder, describes him as "a true visionary entrepreneur, in search of impactful projects." A West African financier adds: "He strengthens equity without diluting himself, attracting partners like Oikocredit." This strategy is supported by Teyliom, active in 16 countries, whose finance represents 41% of revenue (€48 million in 2021).

BGWA isn't limited to banking: it includes Bridge Securities, Bridge Asset Management, and Bridge MicroFinance, with a stake in Senegal. "Regionalization remains moderate, centered on Dakar, its home country," notes a rival. Ivory Coast and Senegal account for 60% of subregional GDP, making expansion unnecessary. But the model has its limitations: "Bridge doesn't open up to the public," laments one expert, given growing demands for transparency.

In a sector marked by the withdrawal of Western giants, Bridge Bank thrives thanks to its digital services and its focus on wealthy clients and solvent SMEs. Yérim Sow demonstrates that a focused strategy can compete with the giants, even if they lack their size.