Djamo
YC's first Ivorian startup; banking francophone West Africa's mobile-money generation.
YC-backed francophone-Africa neobank; 1M+.
- Who holds it
- A sponsor bank behind the brand — not the app you signed up with — Microfinance license (BCEAO / Côte d'Ivoire MEF, Sep 2025 — first fintech); cards with partner banks.
- The ledger
- Split between a program manager and the sponsor bank — the modular setup that broke in Synapse.
- If it fails
- Any claim runs through the sponsor bank, and only works if the two ledgers reconcile.
Derived from Djamo’s regulation type and custody — a class of protection, not a guarantee. Limits and eligibility vary by scheme, balance and jurisdiction; confirm before you rely on it. What happens if a neobank shuts down →
The facts
| Category | traditional · underbanked |
| HQ | Abidjan, CI |
| Founded | 2019 |
| Custody | Custodial |
| Regulation type | Partner-bank model |
| License detail | Microfinance license (BCEAO / Côte d'Ivoire MEF, Sep 2025 — first fintech); cards with partner banks |
| Card | Visa · Debit |
| Stablecoins | No |
| KYC | Yes |
| Active regions | Africa |
| Countries | Côte d'Ivoire, Senegal |
| Founders | Hassan Bourgi, Régis Bamba |
| Funding | ~$30M raised |
Verified links: official site ↗ · terms ↗ · privacy ↗ · @djamoapp ↗
Common questions about Djamo
What is Djamo?
Djamo is a fiat neobank built for underbanked, headquartered in Abidjan, CI and founded in 2019. Your money is held custodially, so Djamo or its partner bank holds the balance and you hold a claim on it. It operates on a partner-bank model (Microfinance license (BCEAO / Côte d'Ivoire MEF, Sep 2025 — first fintech); cards with partner banks).
Does Djamo have a card, and where can you use it?
It issues a Visa debit card. It is available in 2 countries, across Africa.
Does Djamo require KYC?
Yes. Djamo requires identity verification (KYC) to open an account, as a partner-bank model.
Early investors
Head-to-head
Djamo vs Wave · Djamo vs PalmPay · Djamo vs PaySika
Peers
Wise · TymeBank · OPay · PalmPay · Bank Zero · Discovery Bank
Djamo appears in
Neobanks running on someone else’s banking license (81) · Neobanks available in Africa (92) · Neobanks built for the underbanked (23) · Neobanks that issue a Visa card (182)
Figures compiled from public sources, for comparison only — not financial advice. "Up to" rates change constantly; always confirm with the issuer. Spotted an error? Suggest a fix.