Equity Group profit surges 32% to Shs45.5B in H1 2026

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Nairobi, 19th August 2026: Equity Group Holdings Plc has announced a solid first-half performance for 2026, underscoring its continued regional leadership and the momentum of its transformation into a resilient, people centric, technology-enabled pan-African financial services institution. Profit After Tax rose by 32% to KSh45.5 billion from KSh34.6 billion for the same period, a reflection of improved balance sheet quality and growth, rising contributions from its regional subsidiaries and increased non-funded income contribution.

Net interest income continued to strengthen, rising 17% to KSh69.3 billion from KSh59.3 billion, reflecting the depth of the Group’s lending franchise and disciplined balance sheet management. Total income grew 25% to KSh124.9 billion, up from KSh100.2 billion, driven by a sharp rise in non-funded income, which expanded 36% to KSh55.6 billion from KSh40.9 billion. Non-funded income now contributes 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 KSh2.16 trillion. This growth was anchored by a 21% rise in customer deposits to KSh1.59 trillion and a 19%

increase in net loans to KSh981 billion, demonstrating sustained customer confidence and strong credit demand across the markets where Equity operates. Shareholders’ funds grew 27% to KSh350 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 multiyear 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.

He added:

“Our H1 2026 performance reflects the success of our deliberate transformation into a diversified, regional, technology-enabled financial services Group. We are building a future ready institution; scalable, secure, and impact led, anchored in digital capabilities, staff upskilling, and a culture of disciplined execution. As we progress towards our Africa Recovery and Resilience Plan (ARRP) 2030 ambitions, we are evolving beyond traditional banking into

an integrated tech enabled financial institution that mobilizes capital, connects ecosystems, and accelerates inclusive, sustainable prosperity across Africa.” Equity’s technology-enabled transformation is now firmly embedded across the Group. Customer behavior continues to shift decisively toward digital channels, with 98.3% of all transactions occurring outside branches and 89.7% processed through digital platforms, demonstrating that customers are actively choosing the convenience and reliability of Equity’s digital ecosystem.”

Digital adoption continues to accelerate across the Group, with 98.3% of all transactions now occurring outside branches and 89.7% processed through digital platforms. These trends highlight customers’ growing preference for Equity’s digital ecosystem and the reliability of its technology infrastructure.

The Group has continued modernizing core systems, payments infrastructure, and risk analytics. Workforce capability has also advanced significantly: 82% of staff have completed a business focused generative AI course. Furthermore, 55% of staff have completed two additional courses via the Huawei ICT Academy. Combined, staff completed 119,980 hours of guided AI instruction. 406 staff were admitted to Masters degree programs

through WorldQuant University in Financial Engineering and Applied AI. These investments enable faster service delivery, enhanced risk management, and scalable growth across all markets.

The Group has continued to reinforce its risk buffers and strengthen asset quality. NPL coverage improved to 70%, up from 68%, while loan loss provisions fell 6% year-on-year. The loan book recorded a notable improvement in non-performing loans, declining from 13.7% to 9.5%, driven by disciplined underwriting, improved analytics, and a diversified portfolio. Cost of risk improved to 1.4% down from 1.7%. These gains reflect the Group’s commitment to long-term resilience and sustainability.

Equity Bank Kenya’s recovery momentum continued, posting a 32% increase in Profit After Tax to KSh25.7 billion (H1 2025: KSh19.5 billion), demonstrating strong leadership in the Kenya market with a 13% growth in assets underpinned by a 24% deposits growth and 8% loans growth. The bank recorded a return on average assets and a return on average equity of 4.8% and 34.7% respectively, all while maintaining its MSME leadership by disbursing 36% of the KSh101 billion MSME loans issued in Kenya between January and March 2026.

Regional subsidiaries delivered strong and accelerating performance, now contributing 42% and 47% of the Group’s banking profitability and revenue respectively, 51% of Group deposits, 54% of Group loans and 52% of Group banking assets, a testament to the success of the Group’s pan-African expansion strategy. Equity BCDC in the Democratic Republic of Congo achieved a 30% rise in Profit After Tax to KSh11.8 billion. Equity Rwanda grew Profit After Tax by 12% to KSh2.9 billion, and Equity Tanzania delivered exceptional performance with 82% growth to KSh2.0 billion.

Equity Insurance Group maintained its strong trajectory, with gross written premiums rising 24% to KSh6.4 billion and profit before tax increasing 34% to KSh1.25 billion. The life and general insurance businesses wrote KSh4.5 billion and KSh0.6 billion while the health insurance business wrote KSh1.2 billion in Gross Written Premiums. The number of policies issued to date increased to 22.6 million life insurance policies and 7.2 million unique customers consuming life insurance products and further, 24,745 Micro and Small Enterprises (MSMEs) consuming general insurance covers, strengthening the resilience of the families and communities. 79% of the policies issued by the Insurance Group were distributed digitally, demonstrating strong growth driven by technology. Insurance is increasingly becoming a meaningful third pillar of growth alongside banking and payments.

The Group’s non-banking subsidiaries improved and enhanced their contribution, contributing 4.8% of the Group’s revenue, up from 4%. Profit before tax contribution is up to 4.2% from 3.8% while profit after tax contribution has grown to 3.7% from 3.2%.

The Equity Group Foundation (EGF) continued to deliver transformative social impact across Africa through Equity Group’s integrated model of economic empowerment, social impact and sustainability. Across its Education and Leadership Development pillar, EGF currently supports over 11,663 active high school scholars and has expanded global university opportunities with 121 new global university admissions in 2026, valued at USD 23,422,515 (Kshs. 3,021,504,435). To date, EGF under the Wings to Fly scholarship program and the Elimu Scholarship Program has benefitted 60,009 scholars. The Equity Leaders Program has also surpassed 10,505 cumulative paid internships, strengthening Africa’s future leadership and workforce pipeline. The total number of scholars accessing global universities

reached 1,236 scholars while those who have transitioned to public universities are over 35,300 scholars across Kenya, Rwanda, Uganda and the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC). To date, over 4,039 youth in Kenya and the DRC have benefited from the Wings to Fly TVET Scholarship Program, with 33% pursuing IT and 31% science and engineering, alongside agriculture, hospitality, business and other fields.

Under Enterprise Development and Financial Inclusion, EGF has cumulatively trained over one million entrepreneurs facilitating more than KSh436 billion in credit access to MSMEs, accelerating entrepreneurship, financial inclusion and job creation across the region.

In Food and Agriculture, the Foundation continued to deepen agricultural commercialisation and climate resilience, including through the USD 25 million SASTAIN programme in partnership with Mastercard Foundation targeting 60,000 smallholder farmers and Agri-MSMEs in Tanzania and DRC.

Through its Energy, Environment and Climate Action pillar, EGF advanced sustainability efforts by planting over 48.7 million trees and scaling clean energy, water and sanitation solutions to strengthen environmental resilience and green growth across communities. Equity Group Holdings received its accreditation as a Direct Access Entity (DAE) to the Green Climate Fund (GCF) marking a transformative milestone that positions the Group to directly mobilize global climate finance to further support Africa’s climate resilience and sustainable development agenda.

The accreditation significantly strengthens Equity Group Foundation’s ability to scale high-impact climate adaptation and mitigation programmes by unlocking access to catalytic concessional funding, blended finance and strategic partnerships for climate-smart agriculture, nature restoration, renewable energy, resilient health systems, green enterprise development and community resilience.

Riding on the Foundation’s proven implementation capacity and deep community reach across the region, the GCF accreditation will accelerate the delivery of innovative, locally led climate solutions to protect livelihoods, create green jobs, strengthen vulnerable communities and ecosystems, while advancing Equity Group’s mission of transforming lives and livelihoods.

Equity Afya continued to expand access to affordable and quality healthcare through a growing network of 156 medical centers that have now served over 5.3 million patient visits. Additionally, Equity Afya opened its first community pharmacy outlet, taking a first step into its vision to promote access to affordable, high-quality medicines through a targeted network of 1000 community pharmacies across the region.

EGF’s Innovation and Technology Pillar also scaled its initiative that targets rapidly to train 600,000 youth in AI, machine learning and data analytics through partnerships with iamtheCODE, Huawei ICT Academy and WorldQuant University and other partnerships. 12,882 staff completed the GenAI course and have progressed to undertake two additional prescribed Huawei certification courses of which a total of 5,743 staff have completed.

Through the existing partnership with WorldQuant University, 406 staff have been admitted to the MSc in Financial Engineering programme. Simultaneously, Equity was also invited to participate in a new pilot certificate programme in Applied AI Certificate that will inform the rollout of the envisioned future master’s programme in Applied AI. In addition, 6,073 users are now enrolled at the iamtheCODE Digital Academy, with 11,456 hours of instruction completed to date further strengthening staff technology and upskilling programs. These achievements continue to position Equity Group as a future-ready institution driving inclusive prosperity, sustainable development, and long-term resilience across Africa through innovation, human capital development, and transformative partnerships.

With ROA and efficiency at peak levels, the Group is properly positioned for the next chapter of growth as part of its 2030 strategy, anchored on the Africa Recovery and Resilience Plan (ARRP). The strategy outlines ambitions to augment operations to 15 countries, serve 100 million customers, and implement next-generation digital and AI-enabled systems to scale transformation finance across the continent. The Group remains well-capitalized and equipped to support these growth objectives.

Reporting originally appeared via Bizna Kenya. Read the full source for additional context.