Tanzania’s CRDB Bank has secured $111 million in financing agreements to expand lending to small businesses and support affordable housing projects in Tanzania and the Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC).
The deals were announced during the bank’s second Africa Investment Forum in Bangkok, Thailand, on October 15, on the sidelines of the World Bank and International Monetary Fund (IMF) annual meetings.
The largest agreement is a $75 million, approximately 10-year facility from Dutch development bank FMO. The funding will strengthen CRDB’s Tier II capital, giving it greater capacity to lend to micro, small and medium-sized enterprises (MSMEs).
The facility is backed by the European Commission’s MSME Platform Guarantee, which supports efforts to improve access to finance for businesses that often struggle to secure affordable credit.
CRBD’s Financials
FMO Chief Executive Michael Jongeneel said the partnership reflected a shared commitment to “strengthening access to finance for entrepreneurs and businesses that drive economic growth and job creation.”
A further $36 million facility from Shelter Afrique Development Bank will support affordable housing and construction-related activities, including $10 million allocated to CRDB Bank DRC.
Shelter Afrique Development Bank CEO Thierno-Habib Hann said the agreement had moved an earlier commitment into action.
“This facility turned it into funding for CRDB Bank DRC,” he said, referring to a memorandum of understanding signed in 2025.
CRDB Bank reported a 20.3% increase in profit after tax to approximately $158 million in the six months ended June 2026, supported by strong growth in lending, deposits and overall business activity.
It’s total assets rose 33.9% to about $10 billion. Its loan book grew 38.4% to $6.4 billion, while customer deposits climbed 34.4% to $7.1 billion. Profit before tax reached $225 million.
Sustainable Development Impact Disclosure
CRDB also renewed its partnership with the African Export-Import Bank (Afreximbank), covering trade finance, capital markets, structured financing and digital payments.
The cooperation includes the Pan-African Payment and Settlement System (PAPSS) and support for businesses led by women and young entrepreneurs.
The bank also released its Sustainable Development Impact Disclosure, becoming the first Tanzanian issuer to adopt guidance from the Impact Disclosure Taskforce. The framework outlines how it intends to measure its contribution to financial inclusion, job creation and local economic development.
CRDB Bank has operations in three African countries, including Tanzania, Burundi (operations began in 2012) and DRC.
CRDB Bank began operations in DRC on July 10, 2023, opening its first operation in Lubumbashi, in the southeastern province of Haut-Katanga. It later inaugurated a second branch in Lubumbashi on November 1, 2024.
The lender was established in Tanzania in 1996 as the Cooperative and Rural Development Bank, initially focusing on serving cooperative societies and rural communities.