The verdict in three sentences
For a 28-branch microfinance institution (MFI), a compliant corporate website costs FCFA 5,000,000 to 11,000,000 (about EUR 7,600 to 16,800) in 2026, excluding the loan simulator (+FCFA 900,000, about EUR 1,370). Compliance is not a decorative extra: publishing annual percentage rates and financial statements reassures the regulator, funders and clients. Well built, the site becomes a channel for prequalified loan requests that lightens the load on branch loan officers. Our reference case is a BCEAO-supervised MFI in Bamako; an institution in Singapore under MAS rules would face the same building blocks at higher local rates.
What a supervised MFI website must contain in 2026
An MFI does not have the same obligations as a commercial SME. Technical and financial partners (donors, impact investment funds, refinancing banks) review the website before every due diligence mission. Clients mainly look for credit terms, the branch list and an easy way to submit an application.
| Module | 2026 range (FCFA) | Purpose |
|---|---|---|
| Corporate core (20 to 30 pages, FR + partial local language) | 3,200,000 - 6,000,000 | Governance, mission, products, branches |
| Transparency page (financial statements, annual reports, APR) | 600,000 - 1,200,000 | Compliance and funder trust |
| Loan simulator with APR calculation | 900,000 | Prequalification, education on real cost |
| Loan application form with branch routing | 500,000 - 1,300,000 | Leads sent to the right branch |
| Interactive map of the 28 branches | 300,000 - 700,000 | Local visibility in the capital and regions |
| Hardened security (WAF, HTTPS, backups, audit) | 500,000 - 1,800,000 | Protection of client data |
| Managed hosting | 40,000 - 90,000 /month | Uptime and monitoring |
The low budget suits an MFI publishing essentials in French. The top of the range includes a partial Bambara version, the full document library and an external security audit.
Compliance and security: what regulators and funders check
WAMU regulation requires clear disclosure of credit costs, and personal data protection falls under the APDP in Mali (in Singapore, the PDPA and MAS technology risk guidelines). In practice, funders check whether the site shows APRs, application fees, savings terms and up-to-date activity reports.
| Requirement | Minimum level | Recommended level |
|---|---|---|
| Rates and fees disclosure | Downloadable PDF grid | HTML table + simulator with computed APR |
| Financial statements | Last financial year | Last 3 years + auditor's report |
| Data protection | Legal notice | Privacy policy, consent, encryption |
| Technical security | HTTPS | HTTPS + WAF + daily off-site backups |
| Availability | Shared hosting | Managed hosting, 24/7 monitoring, 99.9% |
| Updates | Ad hoc | Monthly maintenance contract |
An MFI collecting loan applications online handles sensitive data (income, ID documents). A WAF and form encryption are non-negotiable, even on a tight budget.
The loan simulator: why it pays off
The simulator shows the monthly instalment, total cost and APR by amount and term. It filters unrealistic requests before they reach a branch. MFIs using one see 45 to 65% of requests being actionable, versus 20 to 30% for a plain contact form (2026 order of magnitude).
Mini case study
Mr Traoré, CEO of a 28-branch MFI in Bamako, receives about 300 loan requests a month by phone and in branches. His officers spend on average 40 minutes per ineligible file, roughly 120 hours lost each month.
Need a professional website?
Kolonell builds websites that attract clients, optimized for the Sénégalese market. Free quote in 2 minutes.
He invests FCFA 8,200,000 (about EUR 12,500) in a corporate site with simulator, branch routing and transparency page, plus FCFA 65,000 a month for hosting. The simulator screens out 35% of ineligible requests upstream. The 42 hours saved monthly represent about FCFA 840,000 of annual payroll at FCFA 20,000 per loaded hour. Above all, the transparency page eased a FCFA 500,000,000 refinancing line from an impact fund whose due diligence required published financial statements.
FAQ
How long does it take to deliver an MFI website?
Allow 10 to 14 weeks, including 2 to 3 weeks of sign-off by risk and compliance. Gathering financial statements and rate grids is usually what causes delays.
Must the simulator show the exact APR?
It should show an indicative APR computed with the regulatory method, stating that the final offer is issued in branch. Building the calculation is included in the FCFA 900,000.
Can the site connect to the MFI's core banking system?
Yes, a connection to the management software typically costs FCFA 1,500,000 to 4,000,000 (EUR 2,300 to 6,100) depending on the available API.
Which hosting should we choose?
Managed hosting at FCFA 40,000 to 90,000 a month with daily backups and a WAF. Shared hosting at FCFA 5,000 is unsuitable for credit data.
Do we need a local-language version?
A partial version (product and branch pages) costs FCFA 600,000 to 1,200,000 and clearly improves reach outside the capital.
Let's scope your project. Send us your branch count, products and compliance requirements, and we will price a corporate site between FCFA 5,000,000 and 11,000,000 delivered in 10 to 14 weeks. Detailed quote within 48 h. WhatsApp +221 77 596 93 33.
Mohamed Bah
Fondateur, Kolonell
Passionate about digital and entrepreneurship in Africa, Mohamed has been helping Sénégalese businesses with their digital transformation since 2020. Founder of Kolonell, he believes every SME deserves a professional and accessible online présence.
