KCB Group wrapped up the first half of 2025 on a high note, delivering strong performance in key areas, including financial growth, regional expansion, sustainability initiatives, and digital innovation.
The performance aligns with the lender’s mission to drive efficiency and reinforces its position as a leading financial institution in East Africa.
One of the bank’s notable achievements during the review period is the landmark transaction that saw Nigeria’s Access Bank acquire 100 percent shares of National Bank of Kenya (NBK), a KCB subsidiary since 2019.
The sale completed in May marked a significant step in the lender’s drive towards unlocking the vast potential of East Africa’s financial landscape.
The proceeds contributed to what is now a record Sh13 billion, the largest interim payment and first-ever special dividend in the Bank’s history.
This dividend is made up of a Sh2 per share interim dividend and an additional special dividend of Sh2 per share derived from the NBK sale.
“This is split between Sh2 for the interim and Sh2 special out of the sale of NBK. All that amounts to a payout of just under Sh13 billion. I think that’s the largest interim dividend that KCB has ever paid,” KCB Group finance director Lawrence Kimanthi said.
The dividend payout reflected an 8 percent Profit after tax growth from Sh29.9 billion to Sh32.3 billion, largely driven by net interest income growth from Sh61.3 billion to Sh69.1 billion.
Historic dividend unlocks new era of wealth for KCB Group shareholders
Branch expansion & digital overhaul
KCB bank continued with its branch network expansion with the opening of six new branches in high-value areas in Kenya, including Kamakis, Ayany Kibera, Haile Selassie, and Village Market, along with branches in Zanzibar (Tanzania) and Kigali (Rwanda), under its subsidiary BPR Bank.
The branches are aimed at bringing services closer to customers, including onboarding the unbanked and not-so-tech-savvy retail customers.
On the digital front, the bank rolled out a unified mobile banking app designed to offer faster, more secure, and user-friendly services. The platform now features self-onboarding capabilities, enabling customers to register and start banking instantly.
Community and environmental impact
In line with its sustainability agenda, KCB Group disbursed Sh26.9 billion in green loans in the first half of the year, financing projects in renewable energy, sustainable agriculture, and climate-resilient infrastructure.
At the same time, the lender screened Sh133.2 billion in loans under Environmental and Social Due Diligence in Kenya, Rwanda, Tanzania, and Uganda.
KCB continued with its support for sporting activities through targeted sponsorships, cementing its brand visibility while nurturing talents, further empowering communities.
The Group committed Sh209 million to the 2025 World Rally Championship Safari Rally, strengthening its legacy in motorsport. The lender also took the lead in nurturing talents in Rugby, Football, Volleyball, and Chess.
Beyond the banking and sporting hall, KCB Group, through the KCB Foundation, continued with its mission to make university education accessible to marginalized students, through sponsorships.
How mobile banking is powering Kenya’s financial revolution
In the 2025 University Scholarship Programme, KCB Foundation sponsored 300 students to pursue their dream at various colleges and universities across Kenya.
These scholars join 588 others sponsored by the bank since the start of the initiative in 2021. The programme ensures 10 percent of opportunities are allocated to students with disabilities, and 50 percent of slots are reserved for girls.
It supports vulnerable groups, including orphans, victims of harmful cultural practices like FGM, teenage mothers, and students from high-poverty areas.
The lender has invested Sh100 million to fund tuition fees and provide mentorship throughout the duration of their studies.
Recognition on the Global Stage
KCB’s performance and values did not go unnoticed. In the first half of 2025, the Group received several global accolades, cementing its position as a trailblazer in the continent’s financial sector.
The Group was named as one of Africa’s fastest growing companies by the Financial Times. It also won 5 major international awards—2025 Euromoney Africa’s Best Bank for Corporate Responsibility, Kenya’s Best Bank and Kenya’s Best Bank for Environmental, Social and Governance (ESG).
The Group was named African Bank of the Year by the African Business Leadership Awards (ABLA), while the Group CEO, Paul Russo was honored with a Special U.S. Congressional Commendation from the State of Georgia, recognizing his outstanding contribution to the banking sector in East Africa.
