Also known as: BoN · The Bank of Namibia
Namibia's central bank, responsible for monetary policy, foreign exchange reserves, and banking regulation including fee oversight.
Key points drawn from coverage. Tap a point to see the original sentence.
New Era
Bank of Namibia accounts for 83% of N$1 billion returns from SOEs
“Of that N$1 billion, 83% comes from just two entities: Mobile Telecommunication Company and the Bank of Namibia.”
Itula pokes holes in budgetInformanté
Bank of Namibia held its main interest rate unchanged in February
“The Bank of Namibia held its main interest rate unchanged in February, but most analysts expect further cuts later in 2026.”
The Economy Grew Slowly in 2025, But Better Times Are AheadThe Namibian
Bank of Namibia directed a 25-basis-point reduction in commercial banks' lending rates by December 2025
“The adjustment, directed by the Bank of Namibia, narrowed the prime-minus-seven repo spread from 3.75% to 3.50%, lowering borrowing costs for households and businesses across the economy.”
Rate cuts to save borrowers N$314m annuallyNew Era
Bank of Namibia leads Namibia's first fast and instant payment system (IPS)
“The system is a collaborative effort led by the Ministry of Finance and the Bank of Namibia, together with payment service providers.”
Namibia draws closer to instant government paymentsThe Namibian
Bank of Namibia confirmed e-money system integration tested with banking systems and user acceptance testing underway
“The Bank of Namibia confirmed last week that the integration of the e-money system has been tested with banking systems, and that user acceptance testing is currently underway.”
Government e-money system will be implemented this year – ShafudahNew Era
Bank of Namibia froze the account in 2019
“This is because the sum that she invested entered the entity's account after the account had been frozen by the Bank of Namibia in 2019.”
‘Investor was unlucky’Informanté
Bank of Namibia's Monetary Policy Committee assessed that global growth is holding steady
“According to the Bank of Namibia's Monetary Policy Committee (MPC), while global growth is holding steady, the International Monetary Fund (IMF) projects global growth to remain at 3.3 percent in 2026 before easing slightly to 3.2 percent in 2027.”
Sectoral shifts and data trends shape Namibia’s economic outlookThe Namibian
Bank of Namibia recommended citizenship and residency regulations barring foreign nationals from top banking roles
“The regulations, issued by minister of finance Ericah Shafudah on the recommendation of the Bank of Namibia (BoN), note that institutions which fail to comply will face fines of up to N$100 000 or imprisonment.”
Namibia bars foreign nationals from top bank jobs as Shafudah pushes 70% local leadershipNew Era
Bank of Namibia announced via its Monetary Policy Committee decision to keep repo rate at 6.50%
“The Bank of Namibia's (BoN's) Monetary Policy Committee (MPC) yesterday announced that it opted for stability over stimulus, keeping the repo rate unchanged at 6.50% as it confronts a slowing domestic economy and an increasingly fragmented global monetary landscape.”
Steady, repo rate holds at 6.50%The Namibian
Bank of Namibia has postponed the launch of retail bonds to 2027
“The Bank of Namibia has postponed the launch of retail bonds in the country to 2027, citing technical capacity as a hindrance.”
Retail bonds now set for 2027The Bank of Namibia plans to acquire 600 kilograms of gold from local mines by the end of the fourth quarter of 2026 as part of a strategy to strengthen the country's foreign exchange reserves.
Bank of Namibia's 600 kg gold acquisition from local mines strengthens foreign exchange reserves and supports domestic mining sector.
4 June 2026 · Namibian Sun →
The Bank of Namibia plans to acquire 600 kilograms of gold from local mines by the end of the fourth quarter of 2026 as part of a strategy to strengthen the country's foreign exchange reserves.
4 June 2026 · Namibian Sun →
The central bank governor told parliament that reducing high banking fees will take time as new regulations are implemented, though he expects significant progress within three years. Banks earned N$5.0 billion from fee income last year, representing 31.3% of their total income.
3 June 2026 · The Namibian →
Namibia's headline inflation rose to 3.1% year-on-year in April from 2.1% in March, driven by higher transport costs following fuel price increases linked to Middle East tensions. FNB Namibia warns inflationary pressures are likely to persist, with further strain dependent on geopolitical developments that could push transport and food prices higher.
3 June 2026 · Windhoek Observer →
Headline inflation jumped to 3.1% in April from 2.1% in March, primarily driven by transport costs reflecting currency depreciation and higher global fuel prices. With the repo rate held at 6.50%, real interest rates have fallen, supporting credit demand but eroding household purchasing power.
3 June 2026 · Windhoek Observer →
Namibia closed 2025 with GDP growth of 1.7%, below government and IMF forecasts, weighed down by depressed diamond revenues and livestock sector recovery from drought; uranium and gold mining, wholesale trade, transport, and services supported growth. The Bank of Namibia has revised its 2026 forecast down to 2.6%, citing elevated fuel costs and softer global demand, while inflation rebounded to 3.1% in April after reaching a cycle low of 2.1% in March, driven by rising transport, utility, and food prices.
2 June 2026 · Informanté →
The Bank of Namibia's international reserves increased 13.6% in April to N$58.8 billion, supported by SACU inflows and foreign currency placements, providing an estimated import cover of 3.7 months. Private sector credit extension also accelerated, with loans to the domestic private sector reaching N$124.1 billion and growing at 4.8% annually.
1 June 2026 · Windhoek Observer →
The Bank of Namibia announced its repo rate will remain at 6.50% until mid-June, keeping commercial bank prime lending rates at 10%. The central bank cited weak domestic economic activity, higher inflation forecasts for 2026, and the need to maintain the Namibia dollar's peg to the South African rand in its decision.
30 May 2026 · The Namibian →
Less than 10% of the working population hold home loans; 70% of the population cannot afford formal housing due to low incomes and limited mortgage access, according to central bank data. Average house prices have risen from N$200,000 in 2000 to between N$1.3 million and N$1.4 million today, while the average working Namibian earns N$5,000 or less per month.
28 May 2026 · The Namibian →
A housing research seminar at the Bank of Namibia found that 70% of Namibians are priced out of formal housing. According to the article, this is not a market failure but a structural outcome of colonial land policies, bank financialisation, low wages, and treating housing as a commodity rather than a social right.
27 May 2026 · The Namibian →
Dr Tobie Ocean Aupindi, Chairperson of the Parliamentary Standing Committee on Natural Resources, has advocated for greater Namibian representation in management structures and increased participation by local entrepreneurs and professionals in the mining, oil, gas and energy industries. He also proposed that Namibia receive dividends in physical commodities such as gold, uranium, or lithium to build strategic national reserves.
26 May 2026 · Informanté →
About 70% of Namibians can no longer afford formal housing as property prices have soared while incomes stagnate and mortgage access remains limited. Namibia's housing backlog has grown from around 80,000 households in 2007 to approximately 300,000 housing units by 2025, particularly affecting low and middle-income earners.
22 May 2026 · The Namibian →
Bank of Namibia governor Ebson Uanguta said Namibia's economy faces headwinds from weaker diamond prices, drought and constrained fiscal space, though it is projected to gradually strengthen over the medium term supported by increased uranium production, tourism recovery, and mining and energy investment. He noted that Namibia's strategic importance presents opportunities in oil and gas, renewable energy, and mining, but cautioned that global growth is expected to remain subdued through 2026 and 2027 amid geopolitical tensions and technological shifts.
21 May 2026 · The Namibian →
Fitch Ratings forecasts Namibia's government debt will rise to 66% of GDP in 2026, with interest payments consuming 18% of government revenue, while affirming the country's BB- sovereign rating with a stable outlook despite high fiscal deficits and weak economic growth.
21 May 2026 · Windhoek Observer →
Namibia maintains second place in Southern Africa's startup ecosystem rankings after South Africa, ranking 94th globally and 10th in Africa according to the 2026 StartupBlink Global Startup Ecosystem Index, though it dropped nine places globally from 2025 despite recording 8.2% ecosystem growth.
21 May 2026 · Windhoek Observer →
The Bank of Namibia hosted diplomats, development agencies and international stakeholders to discuss global economic developments and Namibia's economic outlook. BoN governor Ebson Uanguta said the global economy faces structural changes from geopolitical tensions, technology shifts, climate risks and supply-chain disruptions, and that central banks must strengthen areas beyond traditional mandates including digital finance and cyber resilience.
21 May 2026 · Windhoek Observer →
The finance ministry's executive director clarified that the government does not accept unsolicited funding bids from private entities or agents for infrastructure projects. Instead, all government funding and development projects must follow established procedures under the National Planning Commission Act and State Finance Act.
20 May 2026 · The Namibian →
The Ministry of Finance says infrastructure funding must comply with existing procurement and borrowing laws and cannot be sourced through unsolicited proposals from private entities or their agents, despite acknowledging that such proposals could support national infrastructure development.
20 May 2026 · Windhoek Observer →
Bank of Namibia governor Ebson Uanguta visited Kenya, Rwanda and Uganda to strengthen cooperation and learn from other African central banks, focusing on financial systems, digital transformation, banking supervision, oil sector management and economic policy. The Bank of Namibia signed a Memorandum of Understanding with Rwanda's central bank on economic research, financial inclusion, digital transformation, sustainable finance, innovation and staff training.
20 May 2026 · Windhoek Observer →
Namibia's vehicle market slowed in April with total sales falling to 1,320 units from 1,662 units in March, though April sales remained 5.7% higher than April 2025. Analysts at Simonis Storm Securities attributed the decline to a natural unwinding of March's record-breaking performance, which was driven by fleet deliveries and rental sector demand, while noting the year-to-date performance remains strong at 10.6% growth.
19 May 2026 · Windhoek Observer →
Cabinet has officially approved the establishment of the Green Industries Council to guide development of the green industries sector, with a focus on industrialisation, economic diversification and job creation. The Council will be chaired by the Director-General of the National Planning Commission and include ministers from finance, industries, agriculture, environment, trade, urban development, the Attorney-General, and the Bank of Namibia Governor.
17 May 2026 · Informanté →
The Namibia Financial Institutions Supervisory Authority (Namfisa) has announced appointments of Diana Katjiuongua as head of strategy and projects (effective 1 April), Matheus Iiyambula as FinTech specialist (effective 1 March), and one other senior official to strengthen its strategy, technology and financial innovation functions.
12 May 2026 · Windhoek Observer →
Private sector credit rose marginally in March 2024 by N$158.4 million or 0.1% month-on-month and 4.3% year-on-year, with individuals borrowing N$2.85 billion and corporate entities N$2.18 billion over the past 12 months. The growth was driven by robust mortgage lending and a rebound in overdraft facilities, though corporate borrowing growth slowed to its weakest expansion since November 2024.
9 May 2026 · The Namibian →
Standard Bank Namibia has appointed Deloitte & Touche Namibia as its independent external auditor, replacing PricewaterhouseCoopers Namibia with effect from 29 April 2026, in compliance with Bank of Namibia's BID-10 regulation requiring external auditor rotation every 10 years.
8 May 2026 · Windhoek Observer →
FNB Namibia expects the central bank to keep the repo rate mostly unchanged in 2026 as inflation risks, weak economic growth, and exchange rate volatility pressure the economy, with the need to protect the currency peg and maintain import cover limiting scope for interest rate cuts despite mining inflows.
8 May 2026 · Windhoek Observer →
Namibia's private sector credit growth eased to 4.3% in March 2026 from 4.7% in February, with total credit at N$123.3 billion. Household borrowing gained momentum to 4.1% year-on-year—its highest in the current cycle—driven by stronger mortgage lending, instalment credit, and overdrafts, while corporate lending showed seasonal fluctuations.
7 May 2026 · Informanté →
The Bank of Namibia held its repo rate unchanged at 6.50% on 29 April, citing weak economic activity, slow private sector credit growth, inflation risks and rand strengthening. An FNB economist said easing credit conditions will likely be tempered by elevated borrowing costs, keeping private sector credit growth subdued.
7 May 2026 · Windhoek Observer →
The Bank of Namibia's March 2026 financial statement shows the government's cash position at the central bank reached -N$3.2 billion, the largest deficit in recorded history. The deficit reflects a combination of year-end spending pressures, Eurobond redemption, local bond redemptions, and lower-than-expected domestic revenue growth during the 2025/26 financial year.
6 May 2026 · The Namibian →
An opinion piece argues that Namibia's banks function as capitalist institutions designed to allocate credit upward to the middle class and elites while excluding young people, informal workers, and the poor through credit criteria that reproduce social inequality.
6 May 2026 · The Namibian →
Household debt in Namibia stood at 30.7% of GDP in 2024, the second-lowest in the Common Monetary Area after Lesotho's 17.2%, according to the Bank of Namibia's financial stability report. Despite N$130 billion owed overall, the central bank notes the low ratio suggests contained indebtedness, though continued monitoring is important given subdued income growth.
6 May 2026 · The Namibian →
Pension and retirement funds must now pay interest to members if benefits are not transferred within 60 days of request, under regulations from the Financial Institutions and Markets Act 2021 that came into effect on 1 May. Employers must also pay retirement contributions on time or face interest charges, with both employers and their directors liable for unpaid contributions.
6 May 2026 · Windhoek Observer →