By: Akoi M. Baysah, Jr.
The Central Bank of Liberia (CBL) has clarified recent publications by a local newspaper dated January 12 and 15, 2026, which characterized the Liberia Bank for Development and Investment (LBDI), Bloom Bank Africa Liberia Limited (BBALL), and Sapelle International Bank Liberia Limited (SIBLL) as “problem banks.”
The CBL noted that the newspaper relied on an International Monetary Fund (IMF) report published more than two years ago, while disregarding current supervisory data and recent capital injections that have significantly strengthened the financial positions of the banks mentioned.
The use of outdated information to depict present conditions has the potential to undermine public confidence in Liberia’s financial system.
While acknowledging that the institutions may have faced challenges in the past, a normal occurrence for any going concern, the CBL emphasizes that there has been significant improvement in the condition of all three banks under its close supervision.
The Bank has reassured the public that LBDI, BBALL, and SIBLL are liquid and compliant with applicable regulatory requirements and prudential standards.Specifically, LBDI has recently injected an additional US$20 million in fresh capital, further strengthening its balance sheet and capital adequacy.
Accordingly, Bloom Bank Africa Liberia Limited received a US$5 million capital injection in June 2025, followed by an additional US$10 million in December 2025, reflecting strong shareholder commitment.
SIBLL has also committed to injecting US$10 million in additional capital this month to further augment its capital base, while maintaining liquidity above regulatory thresholds. More broadly, the CBL reports that banking sector financial soundness indicators remain positive.
The CBL further indicated that private sector credit to GDP has increased from below 15 percent in 2024 to an estimated 17.7 percent in 2025, adding that Liquidity and capital adequacy ratios are estimated at 51.6 percent and 37.9 percent, respectively, exceeding regulatory thresholds by wide margins.
As the sole statutory authority responsible for licensing, regulating, and supervising banks in Liberia, the CBL conducts regular risk-based on-site and off-site examinations and enforces corrective measures when necessary.
The Bank reiterated that it does not condone liquidity or capital breaches, which are core requirements under the New Financial Institutions Act of 1999 and proposed banking legislation, as well as key structural benchmarks under Liberia’s IMF Extended Credit Facility (ECF) program.
The CBL has encouraged media institutions to verify banking-related information with the Bank in the interest of public accuracy. Emphasizing that any characterization of licensed banks as “problem banks” without reference to current supervisory assessments should be disregarded.
CBL has assured the public that depositors’ funds remain fully accessible, with no evidence of a run on any bank, adding that it remains committed to safeguarding depositors and preserving financial stability through continuous monitoring of all licensed financial institutions.
