Djamo – A Digital Bank

Djamo – Africa Signal Case
Africa Signal • Case

Djamo

Djamo offers a simple bank account in a mobile app, connected to a Visa card. It helps people move from mobile money to full banking.

Founded: 2020 App launched: 2021 Head office: Abidjan, Côte d’Ivoire Markets: Côte d’Ivoire, Senegal Model: Digital banking plus Visa card Main users: Individuals and small businesses

In Abidjan or Dakar, mobile money is part of daily life. People receive salaries, pay bills, and send cash to family with their phone. But many still do not have a bank account. This makes it hard to save, pay online, or build a financial history.

Djamo was created to close this gap. The app offers a real bank account linked to a Visa card. Users can top up from mobile money, pay in shops or online, track spending, and save in simple ways.

Djamo wants formal banking to feel as easy as mobile money.

Key Numbers

1M+
Active users
10k+
Small businesses served
$4.5B+
Total transactions processed
2
Countries live
Recent funding
Nov 2022
$14M equity round
Apr 2025
$17M equity round
Oct 2025
$3.5M debt facility
Regulatory progress
Visa service
Accounts and cards live
BCEAO license
Microfinance approval in Sep 2025
New products
Savings and lending possible

All figures are based on public company and investor updates in 2025.

Company Information

Djamo is a banking app built for everyday users in Francophone West Africa. It works with regulated partners for banking rails and focuses on a clear and low cost experience for customers.

Djamo connects the comfort of mobile money with the power of a bank account.

Leadership

Role Name Notes
Co founders Hassan Bourgi and Régis Bamba Founded Djamo in 2020 and launched the app in 2021
Main focus Individuals and SMEs Start with daily banking, then add savings, investments, and credit
Regulation BCEAO microfinance license Received in Sep 2025 to offer regulated savings and loans

How the bank works

Djamo makes banking simple. A user opens an account in the app, receives a Visa card, and connects the account to mobile money.

User Mobile money habits
Djamo app Account and tools
Visa card Online and store payments
Wealth tools Save, invest, borrow

What users get

Bank accountOpen an account in minutes with simple KYC
Visa cardPay anywhere Visa is accepted
Spending viewSee purchases in real time and by category
TransfersSend money to banks or mobile money easily
Savings spacesSave little by little with clear goals
Investing accessStart small with simple investment products
Djamo grows by fitting into daily life, not by asking people to change habits overnight.

Growth and results

By April 2025, Djamo passed one million active customers in Côte d’Ivoire and Senegal. It also served more than ten thousand small businesses. In September 2025, Djamo reported more than 4.5 billion dollars in cumulative transactions.

Why adoption increases

  • Trust: a Visa card makes the service feel real and safe.
  • Low cost: pricing is clear and designed for frequent use.
  • Compatibility: users can top up from mobile money quickly.
  • SME value: small businesses use Djamo to organize cash flows.
Most new customers come through referrals from friends and family.

Markets

Djamo focuses on Francophone WAEMU markets, starting with Côte d’Ivoire and Senegal. These countries have strong mobile money use but limited affordable banking options.

Country Status Notes
Côte d’IvoireMain marketHead office and largest base
SenegalGrowth marketLive and expanding
WAEMU regionNext stepFuture expansion after 2025 round

Funding history

Djamo raised equity to build the product and grow the user base. It added debt in 2025 to support lending and SME services.

$14M
Equity in Nov 2022
$17M
Equity in Apr 2025
$3.5M
Debt in Oct 2025
BCEAO
License in Sep 2025
2020
Company founded
Djamo is created in Abidjan
2021
App launch
Account and Visa card go live in Côte d’Ivoire
Nov 2022
First major equity round
14 million dollars to scale product and markets
Apr 2025
Large equity round
17 million dollars led by Janngo Capital
Sep 2025
Microfinance license
Authorization to offer savings and loans
Oct 2025
Debt facility
3.5 million dollars to fund inclusive credit

Main supporters

Equity 2025Janngo Capital with Partech, SANAD, Oikocredit, Enza Capital, Y Combinator and others
Equity 2022Partech Africa, Enza Capital, Oikocredit and follow on investors
Debt 2025Symbiotics impact loan

Competitors and alternatives

Djamo competes with mobile money wallets, traditional banks, and other fintech apps. Its difference is to offer a real account plus a card, at a low cost and with a simple experience.

Player Model Strength Djamo difference
Djamo Bank app plus card Simple use, low fees, savings tools Bridge from wallets to banking
Mobile money operators Wallet services Large distribution Djamo adds a formal account and Visa
Traditional banks Branch based banking Licenses and credit Djamo is faster and cheaper to start
Other fintech apps Single product apps Niche services Djamo combines daily banking and wealth tools
The biggest challenge is still cash only habits.

Lessons for founders

What can other builders learn from Djamo?

  • Build from existing habits. Mobile money is a starting point.
  • Create trust early. A physical card helps people believe in the service.
  • Keep pricing simple. Clear fees drive daily use.
  • Retail trust brings SMEs. Small firms follow when individuals trust the app.
  • Licenses unlock growth. Regulation becomes a strategic advantage.
In Francophone Africa, the next wave of banking will come through phones.
Sources checked in November 2025:
Public company and investor announcements in 2022 and 2025, and regional financial press. Official site: djamo.com

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