NBE Backs Valu with EGP 3B for Fintech Expansion in Egypt

Editorial Team

Last updated 15-01-2026

3 min

National Bank of Egypt arranged up to EGP 3 billion short-term financing for fintech Valu.

The facility supports operations while Valu completes new bond issuance procedures.

NBE said the deal shows confidence in Valu’s business model and financial inclusion role.

Valu’s CEO called NBE a long-standing partner aiding flexibility and funding diversification.

Founded in 2017, Valu leads buy-now, pay-later services across Egypt’s consumer finance market.

The National Bank of Egypt has lined up short-term financing of up to EGP 3 billion for U Consumer Finance, better known in the market as Valu, in a move that underlines the bank’s growing appetite for the non-banking financial sector. The agreement is designed to give the fintech some breathing room while it pushes to widen access to modern consumer finance, a topic that regularly pops up in conversations across Arageek’s startup community.

The signing brought together senior figures from both sides, including NBE deputy CEOs Soha El‑Turky and Yehia Abou El‑Fotouh, alongside Valu’s chief executive Walid Hassouna. According to El‑Turky, the facility reflects the bank’s confidence in Valu’s business model and its role in shaping Egypt’s consumer finance ecosystem. She pointed to financial inclusion as a key driver, noting that backing firms offering responsible and innovative products can help stimulate local demand while staying firmly within regulatory lines.

What’s particularly interesting, well… I mean, is that this funding is meant to bridge Valu’s operations until it completes new bond issuance procedures. That kind of short-term support can be the difference between steady growth and a bit of a faff when markets get jumpy. El‑Turky also highlighted that strengthening ties with established non-banking players fits neatly with NBE’s broader push for sustainable growth and business continuity.

From Valu’s side, Hassouna described NBE as a long-standing strategic partner, saying the facility would give the company flexibility during its current phase and support plans to diversify funding sources. He added that the relationship with the bank goes back to Valu’s early days, which, in my view, says a lot about trust built over time rather than overnight hype. It’s the sort of partnership many founders I’ve spoken to quietly hope for, even if they don’t say it out loud.

Founded in 2017 and backed by EFG Holding, Valu has grown into one of Egypt’s most visible fintech names, operating under the watch of the Financial Regulatory Authority. It’s known for pioneering buy-now, pay-later services in the region, offering instalment plans of up to 60 months across thousands of online and offline merchants. On top of that, the company has branched out into investment products, business-to-business solutions, and even high-end financing that stretches into the luxury bracket.

And believe it or not, Valu was also the first consumer finance fintech to list on the Egyptian Exchange, with Amazon holding a direct stake—details that underline how far the business has come. I reckon this latest facility with NBE is spot on for where the market is heading right now: cautious, yes, but still pushing forward. That said, keeping momentum in consumer finance is no easy task, and the next chapter will depend on how smoothly Valu converts this short-term support into longer-term stability. All things considered, the setup looks definately like one to watch.

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