Bank of the Republic of Burundi
Burundi's central bank, responsible for monetary policy, currency issuance, financial supervision, and the management of monetary and foreign-exchange stability.
Last updated August 25, 2026
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Overview
The Bank of the Republic of Burundi, commonly known by its French name Banque de la République du Burundi and the abbreviation BRB, is the central bank of Burundi. It is responsible for core central-banking functions including issuing and safeguarding the national currency, designing and implementing monetary policy, managing foreign-exchange reserves, overseeing elements of the financial system, and supporting monetary and financial stability. Its principal headquarters are in Bujumbura, with additional offices in Gitega and Rumonge. The institution was created in 1964 during the transition from the shared monetary arrangements of the colonial period to national central-bank institutions. It initially operated as the Banque du Royaume du Burundi, or Royal Bank of Burundi. Following the end of the monarchy and the establishment of the Republic of Burundi, the institution adopted its current name, Banque de la République du Burundi, in 1966. Its institutional history therefore reflects both the political transformation of Burundi and the gradual localization of monetary authority in the Great Lakes region. The BRB operates within Burundi's franc-based monetary system and forms part of the country's public economic institutions. Its responsibilities extend beyond banknote and coin issuance. As the monetary authority, it uses policy instruments and regulatory measures to influence liquidity and monetary conditions, while also contributing to the soundness of banks and other regulated financial institutions. The bank's work is closely connected with public finance, foreign-exchange administration, payment systems, and the broader development of Burundi's financial sector. Financial inclusion has become an additional area of institutional activity. The BRB has participated in international financial-inclusion initiatives and is a member of the Alliance for Financial Inclusion. In 2011, it was among the original group of regulatory institutions that made specific national commitments under the Maya Declaration at the Alliance for Financial Inclusion's Global Policy Forum in Mexico. This placed access to appropriate and affordable financial services alongside the bank's traditional monetary and supervisory responsibilities. The bank has also invested in its institutional infrastructure. Construction of a new headquarters in Bujumbura began in 2019, at a site relatively close to its existing offices. The project encountered technical difficulties and delays, and the reference material does not establish a final completion date. As of the available reference material, the BRB remains an active national central bank with a presence beyond the capital and a mandate spanning monetary policy, currency, supervision, reserves, financial stability, and inclusion. Its current governor is Édouard Normand Bigendako.
History
The monetary history associated with Burundi predates the creation of an independent Burundian central bank. A royal decree of 27 July 1887 established the franc as the unit of account for the Congo Free State, with the territory that includes present-day Burundi included in that monetary framework. After the Heligoland Agreement of 1890 placed Rwanda and Burundi within the German sphere of influence, the German East African rupee became the official currency in the region, although the French franc continued to circulate. The financial institutions that later shaped the region's monetary arrangements developed principally through the Belgian Congo. Banque du Congo Belge was established in 1909 and issued its first banknotes in 1912. Following Germany's defeat in the First World War, Rwanda and Burundi were connected to the Congolese franc zone in 1927. During the interwar period, the colonial administration and Banque du Congo Belge developed a new institutional relationship for the issuance and management of currency. The Second World War brought temporary involvement by the Bank of England, and the Congo franc was listed in London during that period. From 1952 to 1960, monetary and issuing functions for the territory were associated with the Banque Centrale du Congo Belge et du Ruanda-Urundi, commonly abbreviated BCCBRU. As the political order changed at the end of the colonial period, a separate transitional institution, the Banque d'Émission du Rwanda et du Burundi, or Issuing Bank of Rwanda and Burundi, operated from 1960 to 1964. This institution represented an intermediate phase in the move toward national monetary authorities for the two countries. In 1964, Burundi established the Banque du Royaume du Burundi, while neighboring Rwanda established the Banque Nationale du Rwanda. The Burundian institution marked the creation of a national central-bank structure, although its original name reflected the country's monarchical political system. Following the fall of the monarchy and the introduction of the republic, the bank was renamed Banque de la République du Burundi in 1966. The current English name, Bank of the Republic of Burundi, corresponds to that republican institution. Over time, the BRB's mandate developed beyond the initial task of issuing national currency. It became responsible for monetary-policy formulation and implementation, foreign-exchange reserve management, financial-sector oversight, and measures intended to preserve monetary and financial stability. Its institutional presence is centered in Bujumbura and includes offices in Gitega and Rumonge. In the area of financial development, the BRB has promoted financial inclusion and joined the Alliance for Financial Inclusion. At the 2011 Global Policy Forum in Mexico, it was one of the original 17 regulatory institutions to make specific national commitments under the Maya Declaration. This connected the central bank with international efforts to expand access to formal financial services and improve the inclusiveness of national financial systems. The bank also pursued an infrastructure project in the late 2010s. Construction of a new Bujumbura headquarters began in 2019 near the institution's existing offices. Technical problems caused delays, and the available reference material does not provide a confirmed completion date. The BRB remains Burundi's central monetary and financial authority, with responsibilities covering currency, monetary policy, supervision, reserves, financial stability, and inclusion.
- 2019
New headquarters construction begins
[1]Construction began on a new BRB headquarters in Bujumbura. Technical issues subsequently delayed the project.
- 2011
Maya Declaration financial-inclusion commitments
[1]The BRB was among the original 17 regulatory institutions to make specific national financial-inclusion commitments under the Maya Declaration at the Alliance for Financial Inclusion Global Policy Forum in Mexico.
- 1966
Institution renamed Bank of the Republic of Burundi
[1]Following the end of the monarchy and the establishment of the republic, the bank adopted its current republican name.
- 1964
Banque du Royaume du Burundi opens
[1]Burundi established the Banque du Royaume du Burundi, the direct institutional predecessor of the present central bank.
- 1960
Issuing Bank of Rwanda and Burundi established
[1]The Banque d'Émission du Rwanda et du Burundi served as a transitional issuing institution from 1960 to 1964.
- 1952
BCCBRU period begins
[1]The Banque Centrale du Congo Belge et du Ruanda-Urundi handled central monetary functions for the region from 1952 to 1960.
- 1927
Rwanda and Burundi join the Congolese franc zone
[1]After the First World War, Rwanda and Burundi were attached to the Congolese franc zone.
- 1912
First Banque du Congo Belge banknotes issued
[1]Banque du Congo Belge issued its first banknotes, strengthening its role in regional currency administration.
- 1909
Banque du Congo Belge established
[1]Banque du Congo Belge was established as a major institutional predecessor in the regional monetary system.
- 1890
German East African monetary influence begins
[1]The Heligoland Agreement placed Rwanda and Burundi within the German sphere of influence; the German East African rupee became the official currency while the French franc continued to circulate.
Products and positioning
Burundi's national monetary authority and central financial-sector institution, combining currency and monetary functions with financial regulation, stability policy, and financial-inclusion work.
Currency and cash management · 1964
Burundian franc currency issuance
The BRB is responsible for issuing and managing Burundi's national currency, the Burundian franc. This central-bank function includes maintaining the currency framework and supporting the integrity and availability of national cash.
Central banking · 1964
Monetary policy operations
The bank formulates and implements monetary policy for Burundi. Its policy role is intended to influence monetary conditions and support monetary stability within the national economy.
Financial regulation · 1964
Financial-sector supervision
The BRB regulates or supervises relevant financial institutions and contributes to the stability and orderly operation of Burundi's financial system.
Reserve management · 1964
Foreign-exchange reserve management
Management of foreign-exchange reserves is part of the BRB's monetary authority mandate, supporting the country's external monetary position and foreign-exchange administration.
Financial inclusion · 2011
Financial-inclusion policy
Through its participation in the Alliance for Financial Inclusion and its Maya Declaration commitments, the BRB supports policy efforts aimed at widening access to formal and affordable financial services.
Marketing campaigns
- 2011Maya Declaration financial-inclusion commitments
Burundi
The BRB made specific national commitments to financial inclusion at the Alliance for Financial Inclusion Global Policy Forum in Mexico. The initiative connected the bank's domestic policy work with an international framework for expanding access to financial services.
Outcome. The BRB became part of the original group of 17 regulatory institutions associated with Maya Declaration commitments. The available reference material does not quantify subsequent outcomes.
Brand decisions
2019
Construction of a new Bujumbura headquartersStrategyBackground
The BRB pursued new institutional premises near its existing offices in Bujumbura.
Action taken
Construction of a new headquarters began in 2019.
Aftermath
Technical difficulties delayed the project. The available reference material does not confirm a completion date.
1966
Adoption of the republican institutional nameStrategyBackground
The bank had been established in 1964 as the Banque du Royaume du Burundi during the monarchical period.
Action taken
After the monarchy ended and Burundi became a republic, the institution changed its name to Banque de la République du Burundi.
Aftermath
The renamed institution continued as Burundi's national central bank under the republican political order.
Recent events
- 2019
BRB begins construction of a new headquarters in Bujumbura[1]
Other
The Bank of the Republic of Burundi started construction of a new headquarters in Bujumbura. The project later experienced delays attributed to technical issues.
Édouard Normand Bigendako identified as BRB governor[1]
Leadership change
Reference material identifies Édouard Normand Bigendako as the current governor of the central bank.
Sources2 sources
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