BAI Targets 1,000 Banking Agents in Angola by End-2026

In Short

• BAI says it expects to reach 1,000 banking agents in Angola by the end of 2026, up from nearly 800 today.
• The bank says agents account for about 95% of new customer sign-ups.
• Online personal credit is expected to return at the end of August after security improvements.

What Happened

BAI is expanding its banking agent network as part of a push to extend financial services across more municipalities in Angola. Banking agents are third-party shops and small businesses that act as mini bank points, helping customers withdraw and deposit cash.

The bank said it currently has 157 branches and close to 800 agents. It expects to hit 1,000 agents by year-end. BAI also said it wants to keep this pace in coming years, targeting 800 to 1,000 new agents added annually.

BAI is encouraging formalised entrepreneurs to join the agent model. It said agents earn a fee per transaction, between 100 and 200 kwanzas, which creates an extra income stream for small businesses.

At the same event in Huíla, BAI introduced a new debit card that works on both Multicaixa and Mastercard rails. This means customers can use ATMs in Angola and abroad. The bank said the card is already active and should be available for subscription in branches within one to two weeks.

BAI also presented a car leasing option inside BAIDirecto. Leasing is a financing plan where the bank pays for the vehicle and the customer repays over time, often with the car serving as security. BAI said approved customers could pick up a car from a dealership within up to three days.

Why It Matters

Agent banking is one of the fastest ways for banks to reach people outside major cities without building new branches. For customers, it reduces travel time and queues. For small merchants, it can turn foot traffic into steady commission income.

BAI’s planned return of online personal credit also signals a renewed focus on digital lending, with more attention on cybersecurity and fraud controls. The bank said it has 3.1 million customers and over two million debit cards, so reliability and security will matter as more services move into the app.