The ultimate holding company of the FINANCIAL Group, FINANCIAL BC GENEVE, was formed in 1985.

The FINANCIAL Group started its banking activities in Africa by opening the FINANCIAL BANK BENIN in Benin in 1988, a privately held bank run by Mr Remy BAYSSET. It was a pioneering bank and was the first to open in Benin, when it was still Communist. Its first establishment was in Cotonou, and the bank went on to open a network of 8 branches in the country. It is now one of the main banks in Benin.  

FINANCIAL BANK TCHAD (Chad) opened in 1992. It was the first to open up in Chad after the activities of the military. 

Microfinance activity has been extended within the FINANCIAL BANK BENIN since 1999. FINADEV BENIN, an approved microfinance institution, was set up in 2001 with international partners.

In 2002, the Group took over Interfi Banking Corporation Gabon (IBC), a banking establishment specialised in leasing. The Group went on to increase its capital, and put in place the structures needed for a fully fledged banking operation and launched the FINANCIAL BANK GABON.

L’UIBG (Union International de Banque en Guinée) of Guinea Conakry joined the Group in 2002. The acquisition of this credit Lyonnais subsidiary in Guinea completed the FINANCIAL Group's arrangements outside the CFA franc zone.

Microfinance activity started in 2001 in Chad, and was hived down to the FINADEV TCHAD subsidiary in 2003.

After the acquisition of SNI (Société Nationale d’Investissement) [National Investment Company] in 2003 when the banking sector was being privatised, FINANCIAL BANK TOGO opened in 2005.

FINADEV GUINEE was approved as a microfinance institution in June 2005, and opened in 2006, in line with commitments made at the time of acquisition of UIBG.