NAIROBI, Kenya — Equity Group Holdings Plc has reported a record Sh75.5 billion profit after tax for the 2025 financial year, marking a 55pc increase from Sh48.8 billion in 2024, as the lender credited strong regional expansion and digital transformation for the performance.
The group said its balance sheet grew by 9 per cent to Sh1.97 trillion, supported by a 4 per cent rise in customer deposits to Sh1.46 trillion and an 8 per cent increase in net loans to Sh882.5 billion.
The strong earnings prompted the board to propose a dividend payout of Sh21.7 billion, translating to Sh5.75 per share, up from Sh4.25 in the previous year.
Group Managing Director and CEO James Mwangi said the results reflect the success of the bank’s strategic shift into a diversified regional financial services group.
“The 2025 performance reflects the success of our deliberate transformation into a diversified, regional financial services group,” Mwangi said. “Our regional subsidiaries now contribute about half of our banking profitability.”
Revenue growth remained robust, with net interest income rising 17 per cent to Sh126.9 billion, while non-funded income increased 7 per cent to Sh90.8 billion. Total income grew 12 per cent to Sh217.7 billion.
Operational efficiency improved significantly, with the cost-to-income ratio declining to 51.0 per cent from 58.2 per cent, driven by digital adoption and cost management measures. The bank said over 98 per cent of customer transactions were conducted outside branches, with 88.4 per cent processed through digital channels.
Loan loss provisions dropped by 28 per cent, while non-performing loan coverage strengthened to 67.7 per cent, reflecting improved asset quality.
Performance at the subsidiary level remained strong. Equity Bank Kenya Limited posted a 63 per cent rise in profit after tax to Sh39.2 billion, supported by a 28 per cent increase in net interest income and lower funding costs.
Regional subsidiaries also delivered significant growth, with profit after tax rising 58 per cent in the Democratic Republic of Congo, 500 per cent in Uganda, and 125 per cent in Tanzania. Overall, subsidiaries contributed 48 per cent of banking profit after tax, underlining the group’s pan-African footprint.
The group’s insurance arm, Equity Insurance Group, recorded a 75 per cent increase in gross written premiums to Sh9.17 billion, contributing to a 36 per cent growth in profit before tax.
Beyond financial performance, the lender reported investing approximately Sh99.5 billion in social impact and sustainability initiatives during the year through the Equity Group Foundation.
The foundation supported over 1,100 scholars globally, trained nearly one million entrepreneurs, and enabled more than 500,000 small businesses to access Sh401 billion in credit.
It also reached 3.8 million farmers with climate-smart agriculture training and delivered healthcare services to 4.6 million patients through its Equity Afya network.
Equity Group said it remains focused on its 2030 strategy under the Africa Recovery and Resilience Plan, targeting expansion into 15 countries and growing its customer base to 100 million.
“Our focus is to build a future-ready institution that is scalable, secure, and impact-led,” Mwangi said, adding that the bank is investing in artificial intelligence and digital capabilities to enhance efficiency and expand access to financial services.
