The verdict in three sentences
A corporate website for a microfinance institution (MFI) costs 3 to 7 million FCFA (about EUR 4,600 to 10,700) in 2026, delivered in 8 to 10 weeks. Our benchmark is an MFI in Bamako regulated by the BCEAO, and the logic carries over to Nairobi, where the Central Bank of Kenya also pushes microfinance banks towards pricing transparency. The site's first job is regulatory, publishing pricing terms, the effective annual rate and financial statements, and once well built it becomes an acquisition channel through the loan simulator and branch map.
Why compliance shapes the project
In the West African monetary union, the BCEAO has for several years pushed credit institutions and decentralised financial systems towards more transparency: publishing bank charges, account fees, the effective annual rate on loans and respecting the usury cap. Kenyan regulators follow a comparable path. For an MFI with 40,000 members, a branch leaflet is no longer enough: funding partners, donors, the banking supervisor and members themselves check the website.
The managing director must therefore be able to publish, without depending on a supplier, the updated price list, the annual report, audited financial statements and press releases. A site without a simple back office ages within six months and becomes a reputational risk.
Expected regulatory and corporate content
| Content | Status (2026 order of magnitude) | Recommended format | Update frequency |
|---|---|---|---|
| Pricing terms (fees, commissions, rates) | Expected by the regulator (transparency) | HTML page + dated PDF | On every change |
| Effective annual rate of loan products | Expected, with a worked example | Simulator + table | Quarterly |
| Annual financial statements | Strongly recommended, often required by funders | Signed PDF, archived by year | Annual |
| Licence, licence number and supervising authority | Expected | Footer + About page | Rarely |
| Complaints and mediation procedure | Expected (customer protection) | Dedicated page + form | Rarely |
| Personal data protection policy | Mandatory (national data protection law) | Dedicated page | Annual |
| Governance (board, management, credit committee) | Recommended | Corporate page | Annual |
This table is a starting brief. Have your compliance team validate the final list, as requirements vary by institution category and jurisdiction.
Budget by feature
| Feature | 2026 range (FCFA) | Comment |
|---|---|---|
| Corporate site 12 to 20 pages, main language (plus local language for key pages) | 1,500,000 to 3,000,000 | Design, copywriting, back office |
| Regulatory publications area with archives | 400,000 to 900,000 | Sorted by year and type |
| Loan simulator with effective rate and schedule | 500,000 to 1,200,000 | Configurable per product |
| Geolocated branch map (hours, contacts) | 300,000 to 700,000 | 15 to 40 branches |
| Loan or account opening application form | 300,000 to 800,000 | Linked to CRM or spreadsheet |
| 3G optimisation and lite mode | 200,000 to 400,000 | Pages under 1 MB |
| Total | 3,000,000 to 7,000,000 | Hosting excluded |
| Hosting, security, maintenance | 50,000 to 150,000 per month | Backups, certificate, updates |
Mini case study
Mr Traoré, managing director of a 40,000-member MFI in Bamako, chooses a 5.2 million FCFA site with a simulator and 28 geolocated branches, plus 90,000 FCFA a month for maintenance. The simulator generates an average of 120 online loan applications a month, 25% of which are approved, i.e. 30 loans. With an average outstanding balance of 1.5 million FCFA and a net interest margin of about 12% a year, each loan brings in close to 180,000 FCFA. If only half of those 30 loans are truly new, 15 a month, the site produces about 2.7 million FCFA of margin a month. The first-year cost (5.2 + 1.08 = 6.28 million FCFA, about EUR 9,600) is covered in under 3 months, on top of the compliance gain.
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FAQ
How much does an MFI website cost in 2026?
3 to 7 million FCFA (EUR 4,600 to 10,700) depending on page count, the simulator and the number of branches. Maintenance adds 50,000 to 150,000 FCFA a month.
What information does the regulator expect on the site?
Mainly pricing terms, the effective annual rate on loans, the licence and a complaints procedure. Financial statements are strongly recommended and often required by funders.
Is the MFI bound by the loan simulator's results?
Not if it is presented as indicative, with a clear disclaimer and a worked rate example. Configure it product by product to avoid gaps with actual offers.
Will the site work on mobile connections?
Yes if designed in lite mode: pages under 1 MB, WebP images, loading in under 3 seconds on 3G. This optimisation costs 200,000 to 400,000 FCFA.
What timeline should we plan?
Plan 8 to 10 weeks, including 2 weeks of sign-off by management and compliance. Financial statements and the price list should be ready by week three.
Let's scope your project. Send us your number of branches, your loan products and your disclosure obligations: we will price the site, the simulator and an 8 to 10 week schedule. 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.
