KCB Bank Kenya and the Kenya Defence Forces (KDF) have launched a dedicated mortgage programme aimed at expanding access to home financing for military personnel by enrolling more than 50,000 active service members into the Civil Servants Housing Mortgage Scheme.

The mortgage product will offer eligible officers financing at a concessional interest rate of 4% per annum, with repayment periods of up to 20 years, in line with the scheme guidelines, according to a press release dated July 16, 2026. The initiative is being implemented in collaboration with the Ministry of Lands, Public Works, Housing and Urban Development and the Affordable Housing Board.

The scheme adds the defence forces to a government-backed framework that targets increased home ownership among public servants, a policy priority in Kenya’s broader housing agenda. By widening eligibility to include the military, the partners expect to increase uptake of long-tenor home loans and support activity across the housing value chain, including developers, contractors, and building materials suppliers, as indicated in the statement.

Speaking at the launch, KCB Bank Kenya Managing Director Annastacia Kimtai said the partnership is intended to address housing affordability for service members. “Home ownership remains one of the most important aspirations for families, providing security, stability and an opportunity to build long-term wealth. Through this partnership, we are making that aspiration more attainable for Kenya Defence Forces personnel by providing affordable financing solutions that respond to their unique needs,” Kimtai said.

According to KCB, the financing will cover purchase of existing homes, acquisition of residential plots, construction of residential houses, plot purchase and construction, equity release, and mortgage takeovers from other financial institutions. The bank added that beneficiaries will also have access to Shariah-compliant financing through KCB Sahl Bank.

Principal Secretary, State Department for Housing and Urban Development Charles Hinga said expanding the scheme to KDF aligns with the government’s housing objectives. “The expansion of the Civil Servants Housing Mortgage Scheme to the Kenya Defence Forces reflects the Government's commitment to increasing access to sustainable home financing for public servants. Through strategic partnerships with institutions such as KCB Bank, we are creating practical pathways that enable more Kenyans to own homes while supporting the growth of the housing sector and advancing the country's development agenda,” Hinga said.

KCB said it will provide “end-to-end mortgage support,” including financial assessment, financing, advisory services and customer education for eligible officers. The bank also stated it currently manages over 90 mortgage schemes across the country for institutions in both the public and private sectors.

Chief of the Defence Forces General Charles Kahariri said the programme is expected to strengthen the financial security of KDF personnel. “The welfare of our personnel remains a key priority for the Kenya Defence Forces. Access to affordable mortgage financing will empower our officers and service members to invest in homes for their families while planning confidently for their future. This partnership provides a meaningful opportunity to improve their financial security and quality of life,” Kahariri said.

For Kenya’s banking and property markets, a concessional 4% mortgage product for a large, stable employer group could increase mortgage volumes and create additional demand for housing units and serviced plots, particularly in areas with significant military populations. The long repayment tenor of up to 20 years may also broaden affordability for borrowers whose incomes are stable but constrained by prevailing market lending rates.

The partners did not disclose the total expected financing value, eligibility thresholds, or how applications will be processed across KDF ranks. Further details are expected as the onboarding of personnel into the scheme progresses.

KCB Bank Kenya has launched the ‘KCB Partner kwa Ground Kwa Mtaa’ activation, a three-month campaign running from July to September that it says is aimed at deepening financial inclusion by taking banking services closer to communities across the country.

In a media note shared with newsrooms, the lender said the campaign targets MSMEs, traders, entrepreneurs, women-led enterprises, youth-owned businesses and informal sector operators—segments that play a significant role in Kenya’s economy but often face barriers in accessing affordable and convenient financial services.

The activation will be rolled out across key regions including Nairobi, Central, Eastern, North-eastern, Rift Valley and Nyanza, according to KCB. The bank described the campaign as part of its approach to support business resilience and long-term growth among small businesses and everyday customers.

“KCB Bank Kenya has launched the KCB Partner kwa Ground Kwa Mtaa activation, an initiative aimed at deepening financial inclusion across Kenya by bringing accessible financial solutions closer to the people,” the statement said.

According to KCB, customers reached through the campaign will have an opportunity to access business financing, convenient payment solutions, tailored banking products and financial advisory services. The bank did not disclose a budget for the activation, expected customer numbers, or specific financing terms that will be offered under the campaign.

The roadshow-style approach comes as banks and fintechs intensify competition for MSME customers, who typically require a mix of working capital, payments, and merchant services. In Kenya, the informal sector and micro-businesses account for a substantial share of employment and daily commerce, making last-mile distribution of financial services a key battleground for lenders.

For KCB, the campaign may help increase customer acquisition and transaction volumes, particularly in regions where brick-and-mortar branch access is limited or where entrepreneurs rely heavily on mobile money and agent banking. It may also support cross-selling of payments and credit products if advisory services translate into more formalised business banking relationships.

Over the July–September period, the bank is expected to continue the regional roll-out and engage MSMEs and traders through its ‘KCB Mtaani Roadshows’, as referenced in the media note. Further details—such as county-level schedules, partner participation and product-specific terms—were not provided in the statement.

KCB Group’s Director of Corporate Banking Peter Ng’eno said the lender has issued letters of credit worth more than KSh 1.074 trillion to facilitate petroleum imports under Kenya’s Government-to-Government (G-to-G) fuel importation programme since 2022, positioning bank-backed trade finance as a key pillar in the country’s fuel supply chain.

Ng’eno made the remarks on Monday, June 29, 2026, during the Petroleum Institute of East Africa (PIEA) Q2 State of the Oil Industry Briefing held at the Sarova Stanley Hotel in Nairobi, an event attended by Ministry of Energy and Petroleum Cabinet Secretary Hon. James Wandayi and PIEA chairperson Peter Murungi, according to the prepared remarks.

The G-to-G framework was introduced in 2023 to manage fuel supply and reduce immediate pressure on foreign exchange demand by altering how import financing and settlement timelines are structured. Kenya remains heavily reliant on imported refined petroleum products, making the sector sensitive to global price swings, shipping disruptions and dollar liquidity conditions.

In his statement, Ng’eno linked fuel supply resilience to access to financing, saying disruptions in global markets quickly translate into higher freight costs, insurance premiums, foreign exchange demand and working capital requirements for importers and marketers.

“I am proud to note that to date, KCB has issued Letters of Credit worth over KShs. 1.074 trillion under the programme, facilitating the importation of petroleum products that continue to power industries, businesses and households across the country,” Ng’eno said.

He said Kenya’s 2022 energy financing challenge, which he attributed to rising pressure on fuel imports and intensifying foreign exchange demand, prompted the government to seek a financial partner to operationalise a new importation framework. “KCB stepped forward as the primary financial partner under the Government-to-Government (G-to-G) fuel importation programme,” Ng’eno said, adding that the bank used its capital base and international banking relationships to support the programme’s rollout.

Beyond petroleum trade finance, Ng’eno said the bank finances different parts of the oil and gas value chain, including “upstream exploration and production,” “midstream infrastructure and logistics,” and downstream marketers and distributors. He framed the sector as central to economic activity as East Africa’s population grows and urbanisation and industrial output increase.

The remarks also pointed to recent geopolitical tensions, particularly in the Middle East, as a reminder of exposure to external supply shocks. “The recent tensions in the Middle East exposed the vulnerabilities that continue to exist within global energy markets,” Ng’eno said, noting that disruptions around key shipping routes have direct cost implications for import-dependent countries.

For Kenya’s business landscape, the disclosure underscores the scale of bank intermediation that has supported the import system at a time of constrained dollar liquidity and elevated balance-of-payments pressures. Letters of credit are typically issued in hard currency and rely on correspondent banking lines, linking domestic energy supply continuity to the health of local banking liquidity and international credit relationships.

Ng’eno also said energy security and sustainability should be pursued in parallel, calling for an energy mix that supports industrialisation while “progressively embracing cleaner and more efficient energy solutions.” He said the transition creates investment opportunities in renewable energy infrastructure and cleaner technologies, and that KCB is developing financing structures to support “tomorrow’s energy solutions.”

Looking ahead, Ng’eno said the region’s energy sector outcomes will depend on coordinated action by government, industry and financiers. “The future of East Africa’s energy sector will not be shaped by any one institution acting alone,” he said, calling for enabling policies, investment in innovation and capital mobilisation to strengthen energy security and resilience.

KCB Bank Kenya and Airtel Money Kenya have signed a partnership that will allow Airtel Money customers to deposit and withdraw cash at more than 22,000 KCB agent outlets across the country, the companies said in a joint press release dated June 18, 2026.

Under the arrangement, Airtel Money users will access the service through KCB’s agency banking network. Customers will be required to present a valid national identification document and have a registered Airtel Money account. Deposits will be free, while “standard withdrawal charges will apply,” according to the press release.

The partnership comes as Kenyan banks and mobile money operators continue to expand access points and push for interoperability across payments and cash-in/cash-out networks—an area regulators and industry players have highlighted as important for financial inclusion and a more competitive digital finance market.

Speaking at the signing, Anne Kinuthia-Otieno, Managing Director of Airtel Money Kenya, said the collaboration is aimed at bringing services closer to customers by leveraging KCB’s physical agent footprint. “By opening access to KCB's extensive agent network, we are bringing Airtel Money services closer to more Kenyans and making it easier for customers to deposit and withdraw money wherever they are,” she said. She added that “partnerships such as this help us expand access to financial services while supporting the country's financial inclusion agenda.”

KCB Bank Kenya Managing Director Annastacia Kimtai said the deal fits into the lender’s approach to partnerships and digital delivery. “What we are doing is recognizing the fact that diverse and interconnected opportunities are still core to the mobile money value proposition,” Kimtai said. She added that “reaching critical mass will require mobile money ecosystems to become more dynamic and productive,” and said KCB is “offering our agency network for more Kenyans to strengthen mobile money ecosystems and help the industry mature fully.”

For KCB, the agreement also reinforces a broader shift toward non-branch service delivery. The bank said in the statement that its non-branch solutions, including agency banking, continue to drive customer convenience and operational efficiency. KCB also linked the partnership to its recent acquisition of Riverbank Solutions, saying the deal helps strengthen its agency banking capabilities by adding “social payments and Enterprise Resource Planning (ERP) solutions.”

According to the press release, KCB has “deepened its digital channels offerings with 99% of transactions being conducted through non-branch channels.” The companies did not disclose transaction limits, rollout timelines, or expected volumes for the new cash-in/cash-out service.

Market analysts note that agent networks remain central to last-mile financial access in Kenya, particularly for customers who still rely on cash for daily transactions. By allowing Airtel Money customers to transact at KCB agents, the partnership could increase utilisation of agent outlets while reducing friction for customers seeking cash services outside Airtel-branded channels.

In the near term, customers and agents will be watching for operational details such as availability across all KCB agents, system uptime, and the clarity of fees under the “standard withdrawal charges” structure. Any expansion into additional services—such as account-to-wallet transfers, merchant payments integration, or credit and savings products—would likely depend on regulatory approvals and commercial agreements between the parties.

KCB Bank Kenya and Airtel Money have signed a partnership that will allow Airtel Money customers to deposit and withdraw cash at more than 22,000 KCB agents across Kenya, the two firms said on June 18, 2026.

Under the arrangement, customers will need a valid national identification document and a registered Airtel Money account to access the service. Deposits will be free, while “standard withdrawal charges will apply,” according to the joint announcement.

The partnership links Airtel Money’s mobile wallet services to KCB’s agency banking footprint at a time when Kenya’s retail payments market is increasingly defined by mobile money usage, agent networks and efforts to improve interoperability between providers. Both companies said the collaboration is aimed at reducing barriers to access and improving customer convenience through shared infrastructure.

Anne Kinuthia-Otieno, Managing Director of Airtel Money Kenya, said access to KCB’s agent network would expand Airtel Money’s touchpoints for cash-in and cash-out services. “By opening access to KCB's extensive agent network, we are bringing Airtel Money services closer to more Kenyans and making it easier for customers to deposit and withdraw money wherever they are,” Kinuthia-Otieno said.

KCB Bank Kenya Managing Director Annastacia Kimtai said the bank is positioning its agency network as part of a broader push for more connected digital financial ecosystems. “What we are doing is recognizing the fact that diverse and interconnected opportunities are still core to the mobile money value proposition,” Kimtai said. She added: “It is against this background that we are offering our agency network for more Kenyans to strengthen mobile money ecosystems and help the industry mature fully.”

The deal adds another layer of competition and collaboration in Kenya’s agency banking and mobile money space, where providers are seeking scale and distribution beyond their proprietary networks. For Airtel Money, the partnership could expand physical access points for cash services, especially in areas where KCB agents are more established. For KCB, it potentially increases transaction volumes through agents and strengthens its non-branch channel strategy.

KCB said its “non-branch solutions, including its agency banking network,” continue to drive accessibility and operational efficiency. The bank noted that it has been bolstering its agency banking capabilities through the acquisition of Riverbank Solutions, citing the addition of social payments and enterprise resource planning (ERP) solutions. KCB also said that “99% of transactions” are conducted through non-branch channels, according to the press release.

In Kenya, partnerships that connect mobile wallets to agent networks can influence customer choice by improving proximity, speed and reliability of cash services—still a major requirement despite growing digital payments. The move also reflects a broader industry trend of leveraging shared networks to extend reach without heavy capital investment in branches.

The companies did not disclose transaction limits, timelines for nationwide rollout beyond the announcement date, or expected uptake. Next steps will likely include operational integration across agent points and customer communication on service availability, fees and supported transaction types.

KCB Bank Kenya and Inchcape Kenya have entered into a partnership to provide farmers with asset financing for New Holland tractors and related agricultural implements, in a move the firms say is designed to accelerate mechanisation in Kenya’s agricultural sector.

The agreement, announced on June 16, 2026, will allow customers to access up to 95% financing, with repayment periods of up to 60 months, according to a joint statement from the two companies.

Under the arrangement, borrowers will be able to choose between monthly repayments or seasonal schedules aligned to harvest cycles. Farmers who opt for monthly payments will receive a 60-day repayment holiday from the date the tractor is released, the companies said. The statement added that all financed tractors will be insured through KCB Bancassurance, while the interest rate was described as “competitive” without disclosing pricing details.

The partnership links one of Kenya’s largest lenders with a distributor of automotive and heavy machinery, at a time when agribusinesses and commercial farms are seeking productivity gains amid rising input costs and pressure to increase yields. Mechanisation—particularly access to tractors and modern implements—remains a constraint for many farmers due to high upfront purchase costs, limited collateral and repayment profiles that do not always match seasonal cash flows.

In remarks included in the press release, Marion Gathoga Mwangi, Managing Director of Inchcape Kenya, said the partnership is structured to connect financing with productivity objectives in the sector. “Through this collaboration, we are not just offering financing but driving mechanization, which remains a key pillar in increasing agricultural productivity and efficiency. When farmers have access to modern, reliable machines, their yields rise, their costs reduce, and their work on the farm becomes more rewarding,” she said.

Peter Ng’eno, Director of Corporate Banking at KCB Bank, said the lender is positioning the product around the realities of farm income cycles. “By matching repayment schedules to the realities of farming, we are removing barriers that have long held back mechanization as a way of empowering farmers to boost productivity and improving their livelihoods,” Ng’eno said.

The deal adds to an expanding set of equipment-financing partnerships in Kenya, where lenders are increasingly working with dealers and manufacturers to structure asset finance that includes bundled insurance and after-sales support. For farmers and agribusinesses, such partnerships can shorten acquisition timelines and reduce the cash requirement for machinery purchases, though total borrowing costs ultimately depend on the undisclosed interest rate, fees and insurance terms.

For KCB, the agreement is another push in agricultural and SME lending, leveraging its branch and agency network to distribute specialised credit products. For Inchcape Kenya, it provides a financing route that could support higher uptake of New Holland tractors, particularly among commercial farmers and organised agribusiness customers.

Next, the companies are expected to roll out the financing offer through their respective customer channels, with uptake likely to depend on product pricing, borrower eligibility requirements and the speed of approvals. The firms did not disclose target volumes for financed tractors or the total value of the programme.

KCB Group Plc says it disbursed KSh48.8 billion in green financing in 2025 to support projects in renewable energy, sustainable agriculture, green buildings, clean transportation, water management and climate-smart investments. The lender also screened KSh587.9 billion worth of transactions under its Environmental and Social Due Diligence framework across Kenya, Uganda, Tanzania and Rwanda, according to its 2025 Sustainability Report.

KCB said KSh9.9 billion of the green financing was independently verified as climate-eligible using the Climate Assessment for Financial Institutions (CAFI) tool. The bank added that the screening and lending activity helped it surpass a strategic target of allocating 25% of total lending to green projects, reaching 25.84% in 2025, up from 21.6% in 2024.

The disclosures are contained in the 2025 KCB Group Sustainability Report themed Transitioning Economies, which KCB said was published alongside its 2025 Integrated Report.

For Kenya’s banking sector, the figures add to a growing focus on sustainable finance and climate-risk management, driven by investor expectations, shifting regulation, and demand for capital to fund clean energy and climate adaptation projects. KCB’s footprint in multiple East African markets also means its screening framework can influence risk assessment practices for cross-border lending and large transaction volumes.

Paul Russo, KCB Group Chief Executive Officer, said the lender is aligning financing decisions and business strategy to support climate resilience and sustainable enterprise growth across its markets. “KCB seeks to be a bigger player in shaping a robust and sustainable financial ecosystem throughout East Africa by continuously developing tailored green financing solutions for MSMEs, households, and corporates in order to support the adoption of sustainable practices across key sectors,” Russo said.

KCB also reported progress on operational sustainability and social impact initiatives. It said it exceeded its 2025 tree-planting target of 1.5 million, planting more than 3.5 million trees in 2025 through more than 200 regionwide events in collaboration with 1,778 schools and other partners.

In the education sector, KCB said it supported 266 schools to adopt cleaner cooking systems under its Learning Institutions Customer Value Proposition, backed by KSh782.5 million in financing, aimed at reducing reliance on traditional biomass fuels.

On branch operations, KCB said solar installations were operational in 16 branches across the group, including Maasai Mara, Wajir, Mandera, Watamu, Lamu, Loitoktok, Kakuma and Namanga, as well as the Karen Leadership Centre. The lender said it plans to expand solar power to 30 additional branches in 2026.

KCB attributed a 2% reduction in resource use for fuel and electricity to these efforts, contributing to an overall 13% reduction in emissions across the group.

Through KCB Foundation programmes, the group said over 265,300 jobs were supported, while 16,549 youth benefited from workforce readiness and skills development initiatives. It also said 38,635 youth-led businesses received business development support under the 2Jiajiri Young Africa Works programme, and that it has supported a total of 67,090 businesses.

On inclusive finance, KCB said it disbursed KSh149 billion to women-led businesses through its Female-Led and Made Enterprise (FLME) programme, as part of a five-year commitment to unlock KSh250 billion in financing for women entrepreneurs and enterprises. The group also said 20,299 refugees gained access to formal banking services and that it disbursed KSh71.4 million in loans to refugee entrepreneurs, leveraging UNHCR identification documentation.

KCB said the 2025 sustainability report is its third to undergo a limited assurance review and was prepared in reference to IFRS S1 and S2 Standards, as part of what it described as early voluntary adoption ahead of a mandatory deadline set for the 2027 reporting period.

Looking ahead, the lender’s planned rollout of solar to additional branches and continued expansion of green lending will be watched as banks across Kenya and the region face pressure to demonstrate measurable progress on climate risk, sustainable finance allocation and disclosure standards.

KCB Group Plc said it disbursed KSh48.8 billion in green financing loans in 2025 to support projects in renewable energy, sustainable agriculture, green buildings, clean transportation, water management and climate-smart investments, according to disclosures in its 2025 Sustainability Report.

The lender also said it screened KSh587.9 billion worth of transactions under its Environmental and Social Due Diligence framework covering operations in Kenya, Uganda, Tanzania and Rwanda. KCB said the screening and lending activity helped it surpass its internal strategic target of allocating 25% of total lending to green projects, with green lending reaching 25.84% in 2025, up from 21.6% in 2024.

KCB said KSh9.9 billion of the green financing was independently verified as climate-eligible using the Climate Assessment for Financial Institutions (CAFI) tool.

The disclosures are contained in the 2025 KCB Group Sustainability Report themed “Transitioning Economies”, which the bank published alongside its 2025 Integrated Report.

The update matters for Kenya’s banking sector as lenders face growing pressure from regulators, investors and development finance partners to demonstrate measurable progress on climate and sustainability commitments, including disclosure quality and portfolio alignment. KCB is one of the region’s largest banking groups, with operations across multiple East African markets, meaning its sustainable finance approach can influence capital flows into sectors such as energy, transport, agriculture and real estate.

Commenting on the results, KCB Group CEO Paul Russo said the bank was aligning financing decisions and business strategy toward climate resilience and sustainable enterprise growth.

“KCB seeks to be a bigger player in shaping a robust and sustainable financial ecosystem throughout East Africa by continuously developing tailored green financing solutions for MSMEs, households, and corporates in order to support the adoption of sustainable practices across key sectors,” Russo said. He added that this would be supported by partnerships with global climate financiers, product innovation and efforts to “accelerate the transition to a low-carbon and climate resilient economy throughout the region.”

Beyond lending, KCB said it exceeded its 2025 tree-planting target. The bank reported it planted more than 3.5 million trees in 2025, above a target of 1.5 million, through more than 200 tree-planting events in collaboration with 1,778 schools and other partners.

In clean energy initiatives tied to the education sector, KCB said it supported 266 schools to adopt cleaner cooking systems, backed by KSh782.5 million in financing, under its Learning Institutions Customer Value Proposition.

The bank also said it expanded solar power installations to 16 branches across the group, naming Maasai Mara, Wajir, Mandera, Watamu, Lamu, Loitoktok, Kakuma and Namanga, as well as the Karen Leadership Centre, as some of the sites with operational installations. KCB said it plans to expand solar power to 30 additional branches “this year.”

KCB reported that these efforts contributed to a 2% reduction in resource use for fuel and electricity and an overall 13% reduction in emissions across the group, attributing the performance to renewable energy adoption and operational efficiency initiatives.

On inclusion-linked programmes, KCB said that through KCB Foundation programmes, more than 265,300 jobs were supported, while 16,549 youth benefited from workforce readiness and skills development initiatives. The lender also reported that 38,635 youth-led businesses received business development support under the 2Jiajiri Young Africa Works programme and that it has supported a total of 67,090 businesses.

The bank said it disbursed KSh149 billion to women-led businesses through its Female-Led and Made Enterprise (FLME) programme, positioning this as part of a five-year commitment to unlock KSh250 billion for women entrepreneurs and enterprises.

KCB also said 20,299 refugees gained access to formal banking services and that it disbursed KSh71.4 million in loans to refugee entrepreneurs using UNHCR identification documentation.

On reporting and disclosure standards, KCB said the 2025 sustainability report was its third to undergo a limited assurance review and that it was prepared in reference to IFRS S1 and S2 Standards. The group said this represents voluntary early adoption ahead of a mandatory deadline set for the 2027 reporting period.

Going forward, the lender’s next milestones will include execution of its plan to roll out solar power to additional branches and maintaining green-lending levels above its 25% allocation target, as disclosure requirements and investor scrutiny increase across the region.

National Bank of Kenya (NBK) reported a 275% increase in profit after tax to KES 1.03 billion for the first quarter ended March 31, 2026, up from KES 275.7 million a year earlier, driven by higher net interest income and a steep decline in loan loss provisions, according to a press release dated May 21, 2026.

The lender said net interest income rose to KES 2.84 billion from KES 2.4 billion in Q1 2025, attributing the increase to “disciplined asset pricing and improved funding efficiency.” Non-interest income was KES 664.3 million, which NBK said reflected performance in fees and commissions despite a competitive environment.

NBK maintained operating expenses at KES 2.1 billion in the quarter, citing cost management and operational efficiency initiatives. The most significant swing factor was credit impairment: the bank said loan loss provisions declined 92% to KES 50 million from KES 618 million in the prior-year period, which it attributed to reduced non-performing loans, improved recoveries and enhanced credit quality.

On the balance sheet, NBK said total assets increased to KES 145.3 billion, up from KES 141.1 billion in December 2025. Customer deposits stood at KES 106.7 billion, which the bank said provided a stable funding base. Net loans and advances rose to KES 57.0 billion from KES 51.0 billion in December 2025.

The results come as Kenya’s banking sector continues to contend with credit risk management, competition for low-cost deposits and a shifting interest rate environment. For NBK, the sharp decline in provisions suggests an improving risk profile, while growth in loans and advances indicates an expansion of credit to households and businesses.

NBK Managing Director George Odhiambo said the bank’s start to the year was supported by operational measures and customer activity. “We have started off the year on a strong footing, driven by customer confidence, cost management and operations efficiency initiatives,” Odhiambo said. “We are reinventing ourselves in the market to come out stronger, and I am confident that by the end of the year, we will be at a higher level.”

Odhiambo added that the lender would continue to widen its offering. “Our focus is to continue serving our customers, exploring more business opportunities and expanding our product and service offering to better serve the market,” he said.

Industry watchers typically view a combination of rising net interest income and falling impairment charges as a signal of improved asset quality and pricing discipline, but the sustainability of earnings gains often depends on how long credit costs remain low and whether loan growth is funded without increasing funding costs. NBK’s deposits level and stable operating expenses may provide support if competition for deposits intensifies across the sector.

Looking ahead, NBK said it would focus on “delivering sustainable growth” while strengthening digital capabilities and maintaining disciplined risk management. The bank also referenced ongoing “integration processes within Access Bank PLC,” reflecting its position as a subsidiary of Access Bank Plc.

KCB Group has been recognised for a second consecutive year in the Financial Times Africa’s Fastest-Growing Companies 2026 ranking, compiled in partnership with data firm Statista, the lender said in a statement.

The ranking assesses companies based on their compound annual growth rate between 2020 and 2023, according to KCB’s press release. The list, now in its fifth year since launching in 2021, tracks firms seen as contributing to job creation and competitiveness across African economies, the lender added.

The recognition comes as Kenyan banks face a tougher operating environment shaped by elevated interest rates in recent years, pressure on household and SME purchasing power, and intensified competition from mobile money and fintechs. For listed lenders, growth and profitability metrics are closely watched by investors on the Nairobi Securities Exchange (NSE) as they balance credit growth, asset quality and capital allocation.

KCB said it delivered improved profitability in its latest reported full-year performance. “In 2025, the Group posted a resilient result, with net profit rising by 11% to a record KShs. 68.4 billion, translating to a 22.5% return on equity,” the statement said. The group added that the performance “positioned the Group among the top-performing companies on the Nairobi Securities Exchange.”

On its balance sheet, KCB said it “maintained its leadership position by asset size,” reporting that total assets increased by 9.3% to KShs. 2.15 trillion.

The bank attributed its performance to its business mix and investments across the region. “The Group’s regional diversification strategy continues to strengthen resilience and drive performance across markets,” KCB said. It added that results reflected “the strength of the core banking business, sustained customer franchise growth, the benefits of regional diversification and continued investments in digital transformation and operational efficiency.”

For Kenya’s banking sector, KCB’s inclusion on the Financial Times-Statista list may reinforce the market’s focus on scale, cross-border earnings and technology-led cost discipline as key levers for growth. Analysts typically view regional diversification as a buffer against localised shocks, though it can also increase exposure to multiple regulatory regimes and currency volatility across East Africa.

Looking ahead, the extent to which KCB sustains growth rates comparable to the period assessed by the ranking (2020–2023) is likely to depend on credit demand, funding costs, asset quality trends and execution of its digital and efficiency programmes. Investors will also watch for updates on performance across its regional subsidiaries and the group’s ability to defend margins as competition for deposits and loans remains tight.