Equity Group half year profit hits Ksh.45B as digital, regional expansion drive record growth
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Equity Group half year profit hits Ksh.45B as digital, regional expansion drive record growth
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Profit After Tax rose by 32% to Ksh.45.5 billion from Ksh.34.6 billion for the same period, reflecting improved balance sheet quality and growth, rising contributions from its regional subsidiaries, and increased non-funded income.
Net interest income continued to strengthen, rising 17% to Ksh.69.3 billion from Ksh.59.3 billion, reflecting the depth of the Group’s lending franchise and disciplined balance sheet management.
Total income grew 25% to Ksh.124.9 billion, up from Ksh.100.2 billion, driven by a sharp rise in non-funded income, which expanded 36% to Ksh.55.6 billion from Ksh.40.9 billion.
Non-funded income now accounts for 44.5% of the Group’s total income, up from 40.8% in H1 2025, underscoring Equity’s multi-line business, geographic diversification, and revenue quality mix.
The balance sheet also continued its upward trajectory, expanding 20% to Ksh.2.16 trillion.
This growth was anchored by a 21% rise in customer deposits to Ksh.1.59 trillion and a 19% increase in net loans to Ksh.981 billion, demonstrating sustained customer confidence and strong credit demand across the markets where Equity operates.
Shareholders’ funds grew 27% to Ksh.350 billion, reinforcing the Group’s capital strength. Equity now serves 23.3 million customers through various digital platforms, including Equity Online for Business & Individuals, Eazzy FX, the Equity Mobile App, *247#, and Equitel, complemented by 410 branches, 886 ATMs, 92,572 agency outlets, and 1.4 million merchants.
Together, these channels reflect one of the region’s most extensive and diversified financial services ecosystems.
While releasing the half-year results, Dr James Mwangi, Group Managing Director and CEO, said, “The Group’s performance is unfolding against a backdrop of resilient regional economic growth. Kenya is projected to expand by 4.5%-5%, the Democratic Republic of Congo by 5.6%, Tanzania by 5.9%, Uganda by 6.4%, Rwanda by 6.8%, and South Sudan by 20%.
These growth rates are supported by firm commodity prices and policy reforms and are expected to sustain, making the region where we operate one of the fastest-growing regions in the world.
Equity’s half-year 2026 performance is the outcome of a multi-year transformation agenda focused on resilience, diversification, and technology enablement.
The Group has repositioned its operating model, strengthened its regional presence, and invested heavily in digital and AI-enabled capabilities to build an institution equipped for the future.”
Operational efficiency continued to improve, with the cost-to-income ratio improving to 48.6% from 51.7%, driven by productivity gains, shared services, and a decisive customer shift toward digital channels.
Return on Assets stood at 4.5%, while Return on Equity reached 26.5%, demonstrating strong asset productivity and disciplined capital allocation.
Reporting originally appeared via Citizen Digital. Read the full source for additional context.