In this paper, we define the co-complex-type k-Fibonacci numbers and then give the relationships between the k-step Fibonacci numbers and the co-complex-type k-Fibonacci numbers. Also, we produce various properties of the co-complex-type k-Fibonacci numbers such as the generating matrices, the Binet formulas, the combinatorial, permanental and determinantal representations, and the finite sums by matrix methods. In addition, we study the co-complex-type k-Fibonacci sequence modulo m and then we give some results concerning the periods and the ranks of the co-complex-type k-Fibonacci sequences for any k and m . Furthermore, we extend the co-complex-type k-Fibonacci sequences to groups. Finally, we obtain the periods of the co-complex-type 2-Fibonacci sequences in the semidihedral group SD2m , (m >= 4) with respect to the generating pair (x,y). (C) 2021 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.