During a workshop hosted by Visa on April 21–22, 2026 on the theme “Compliance, Reimagined,” the chair of the Compliance Committee of the Congolese Banking Association (ACB) spoke to Bankable. With the DRC still on the FATF grey list, Jolie Mbala outlines the sector’s priorities. The Chief Compliance Officer of Ecobank DRC argues for a risk-based approach, supported by digitalization, as a way to strengthen credibility, resilience and financial inclusion. 

Bankable: Kinshasa hosted a two-day financial compliance workshop on April 21–22, bringing together regulators, banks and international stakeholders to reposition compliance as a strategic lever for the Congolese financial sector. What outcomes do you expect from these two days of discussions?

Jolie Mbala: This workshop is primarily about strategic alignment. First, it should improve the harmonization of expectations among regulators, banks and partners, particularly on compliance standards and how they are applied in the Congolese context.

Second, sharing experience and best practices should strengthen capacity across stakeholders, positioning compliance not as a regulatory burden or a constraint on business development, but as a driver of resilience, credibility and competitiveness for banks.

Finally, the forum should lead to a shared action plan covering knowledge-sharing, digital payments, risk management and inter-institutional cooperation. Visa’s involvement, alongside the Congolese Banking Association (ACB) and the Central Bank of the Congo (BCC), reflects this forward momentum.

Bankable: Since October 2022, the DRC has been on the FATF grey list, highlighting ongoing compliance challenges. What do you think is the most urgent priority for strengthening the compliance framework of the Congolese banking sector? 

JM: The most urgent priority is strengthening the national framework for combating money laundering, terrorist financing and the financing of the proliferation of weapons of mass destruction (AML/CFT/CPF), through coordinated action involving public authorities, the Central Bank of the Congo, commercial banks and other key stakeholders.

Digitalization is fundamentally reshaping the risk landscape through higher transaction volumes and speed, reduced face-to-face interaction, new channels and players, and fragmented data

Significant progress has already been made. The overhaul of the AML/CFT/CPF legal and regulatory framework, the establishment and restructuring of enforcement institutions, and the DRC’s recent accession to ESAAMLG all indicate strong political commitment.

The focus now is on implementation. This includes stepping up AML/CFT/CPF prosecutions, improving data quality, building expertise, strengthening controls and enhancing public-private cooperation. Such coordination is essential for the DRC to secure an exit from the FATF grey list.

Bankable: What are the biggest challenges Congolese banks face today in meeting compliance requirements, particularly in anti-money laundering and counter-terrorism financing? 

JM: Congolese commercial banks operate in a complex environment marked by the predominance of cash transactions and a large informal economy, limited availability and reliability of customer data, including the lack of a national ID system or equivalent documentation and a centralized population database, and a gap between international standards and local realities.

That said, the sector has shown strong resilience. Despite these constraints, banks are investing significantly in compliance systems, staff training and process modernization. The challenges are real but are being addressed.

Bankable: With the rise of digital payments, new risks are emerging, including digital fraud, money mules and crypto-assets. How are Congolese banks adapting to these evolving threats? 

JM: Digitalization is fundamentally reshaping the risk landscape through higher transaction volumes and speed, reduced face-to-face interaction, new channels and players, and fragmented data. As a result, AML/CFT/CPF risks are becoming more complex and require more sophisticated responses.

At the same time, digitalization provides powerful tools to manage these risks, including automated transaction monitoring, traceable audit trails, AI-powered solutions and faster access to information.

A compliant bank is more stable, better protected from legal and reputational risks, and more credible for customers, investors and both domestic and international partners.

Led by the ACB, Congolese banks are strengthening transaction monitoring systems, investing in real-time AML/CFT/CPF detection tools and developing mechanisms to address emerging threats such as money mules and the misuse of crypto-assets.

Partnerships with technology players such as Visa, combined with the regulatory framework set by the BCC and the awareness efforts led by the ACB, are supporting a structured and secure transition aligned with international standards.

Bankable: With the entry of technology players such as Visa and the development of data-driven solutions, including analytics, credit scoring and fraud detection, how ready are Congolese banks to integrate these tools? And what obstacles remain before they can fully leverage data in compliance management?

JM: Yes. Congolese banks have already adopted these technologies. They have analytics and scoring solutions in place, along with automated monitoring systems, and many have introduced AI-powered tools.

The main challenges are no longer technological, but relate to the regulatory framework, data quality, systems interoperability and the development of the skills needed to use these tools effectively.

By taking part in this two-day forum, the Congolese Banking Association (ACB) is signaling the sector’s commitment to technology adoption, particularly in AML/CFT/CPF.

Bankable: How significant are compliance costs for banks, and how can these constraints be reconciled with financial inclusion goals and sector growth? 

JM: Compliance represents a real cost for banks, given increasing regulatory demands, technology investments and the need for specialized talent. But it should not be seen as a burden. It is a strategic investment. A compliant bank is more stable, better protected from legal and reputational risks, and more credible for customers, investors and both domestic and international partners.

Through digitalization and risk-based approaches, banks can reduce compliance costs while improving the effectiveness of their controls. These innovations also support financial inclusion by expanding access to banking services in a secure and scalable way.

Ultimately, compliance, financial inclusion and banking sector growth are not in conflict. When properly integrated, they reinforce one another and support long-term development of the financial system.

Interview by Aboudi Ottou