Stanbic Holdings Plc has reported a resilient financial performance for the first half of 2026, posting a net profit of KES 6.6 billion while growing total assets by 27% to KES 602 billion and strengthening support for businesses and households across Kenya.
The Group also recorded a 28% increase in customer deposits to KES 422 billion, reflecting growing customer confidence, while customer loans rose 24% to KES 290 billion, driven by continued financing of sectors critical to the country’s economic growth.
The lender said the strong performance was achieved despite a dynamic operating environment characterised by changes in Kenya’s credit market, evolving monetary policy, elevated energy costs and global economic uncertainty.
Stanbic grows assets and deposits as customer confidence strengthens
Stanbic’s balance sheet continued to expand during the six-month period, with total assets increasing to KES 602 billion from the previous year. Customer deposits climbed to KES 422 billion, reinforcing the bank’s position as one of Kenya’s leading financial institutions.
Customer lending also registered robust growth, reaching KES 290 billion as the bank continued financing businesses and households. The additional lending supported business expansion, consumer spending and employment creation across the economy.
Commenting on the results, Stanbic Holdings Plc Chief Executive Dr Joshua Oigara said the performance reflects disciplined execution and the bank’s long-term strategy.
“Our performance in the first half demonstrates the discipline and resilience that continue to define our business. We remain well-capitalised, deeply customer-centric, and steadfast in our commitment to support Kenya’s economic growth. Our prudent risk management approach and continued investments in technology are enhancing client experience while strengthening shareholder value.”
Strong lending growth backed by prudent risk management
Stanbic said its performance comes as Kenya’s banking sector continues adjusting to the risk-based pricing framework anchored on the Kenya Shilling Overnight Interbank Average (KESONIA) benchmark rate.
Despite the evolving environment, the Group maintained strong asset quality, recording a credit loss ratio of 0.5%, one of the strongest performances in the banking sector. Non-performing loans stood at 7.73%, remaining significantly below the industry average.
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Stanbic Bank Kenya Chief Financial and Value Officer Dennis Musau attributed the results to disciplined execution and improving economic conditions.
“Our half year financial performance reflects a disciplined balance between revenue growth, cost optimisation, and proactive risk management. While the operating environment remains dynamic, our strategic investments, execution discipline, and strong risk management framework position us well to capture opportunities and deliver sustainable value for our stakeholders.”
He added that the rebound in private-sector credit provides an opportunity for the bank to continue growing while maintaining strong risk discipline and delivering sustainable earnings.
KES 181 billion in MSME financing underscores economic commitment
During the reporting period, Stanbic continued supporting sectors critical to Kenya’s economy, including trade, manufacturing, agriculture and energy.
The Group played a key role in several landmark transactions, including the Kenya Pipeline Corporation IPO, Safaricom share-related transactions, and Kenya’s government-to-government petroleum importation programme.
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Stanbic also extended more than KES 21 billion in financing to small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs), supporting entrepreneurship, business expansion and job creation.
Through the Stanbic Foundation, the Group further strengthened its commitment to the MSME sector by extending KES 181 billion in concessionary lending, helping entrepreneurs start, sustain and scale their businesses.
Wealth management and digital banking drive future growth
Stanbic continued expanding its non-banking businesses during the period, with assets under management increasing by 63% to KES 7 billion as more customers sought diversified investment and wealth management solutions.
The lender also enhanced its digital banking offering by introducing new mobile banking functionalities and rolling out Dynamic Currency Conversion across its ATM network to improve customer convenience and accessibility.
Its customer base grew by 6% year-on-year to 258,000 customers, reflecting continued investment in customer experience and digital innovation.
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Looking ahead, Dr Oigara said the Group remains focused on supporting customers while strengthening its balance sheet and accelerating digital transformation.
“Despite prevailing macroeconomic headwinds, our strategic priorities remain clear: supporting our clients’ growth ambitions, accelerating our digital transformation agenda, strengthening our balance sheet, and delivering sustainable value for our shareholders.”
The strong financial performance was also reflected on the Nairobi Securities Exchange, where Stanbic ranked among the top three best-performing banking stocks during the period.
The Group also received several industry recognitions, including Best Bank in Tier 1 at the Think Business Awards, Winner – Mergers and Acquisitions Financial Advisor at the 2025 DealMakers Africa Annual Awards, and Best Investment Bank in Kenya at the Euromoney Awards.
