Co-op Bank named best in product innovation at Global SME Finance Awards: The Co-operative Bank of Kenya is pleased to note that it has been recognised as the SME Bank of the Year in Africa at the 20th edition of the prestigious African Banker Awards.
The awards ceremony took place on 27 May 2026 at the Kempinski Hotel in Brazzaville, Congo, on the sidelines of the African Development Bank Annual Meetings. Organised by African Banker magazine and IC Events under the high patronage of the African Development Bank, the awards celebrated excellence, resilience and innovation across Africa’s banking and financial sector. Co-op Bank stood out among a strong field of continental nominees for its exceptional contribution to SME financing and economic empowerment.
Commenting on the award, the Group Managing Director & CEO of the Co-operative Bank of Kenya Dr Gideon Muriuki said:
“This recognition as the SME Bank of the Year in Africa is a powerful validation of our unique expertise and deep-rooted commitment to serving the banking needs of small and medium enterprises across the Eastern African region. We remain dedicated to walking alongside entrepreneurs – the true engine of job creation and inclusive economic growth – to unlock prosperity for millions of Kenyans and our neighbours in the region.”
Co-op Bank named best in product innovation at Global SME Finance Awards
The award adds to the Bank’s growing list of notable accolades and underscores its role as a key driver of financial inclusion and sustainable finance in Kenya and the wider Eastern African region. In the recent past, the bank was awarded the SME Financier of the Year Africa – Gold and, most recently, the Product Innovation of the Year (Africa) at the Global SME Finance Awards 2025.
The African Banker Awards are prestigious accolades that celebrate excellence and best practices in African banking and finance, recognise the outstanding achievements of individuals and financial institutions that are transforming the continent’s financial sector and contributing to economic development and financial inclusion in Africa.
