Equity Group Holdings Plc posted a record profit after tax of KSh75.5 billion for the financial year 2025, marking a 55% surge from KSh48.8 billion in 2024.
The strong results highlight the success of the group’s strategic shift toward diversification, regional growth across East and Central Africa, and enhanced operational efficiency through digital channels.
The board proposed a dividend of KSh21.7 billion, or KSh5.75 per share, a 35.3% increase from the previous year’s KSh16 billion (KSh4.25 per share).
Equity Bank Kenya Limited led the charge, with profit after tax rising 63% to KSh39.2 billion from KSh24.1 billion. This growth stemmed from a 28% rise in net interest income and a 37% drop in interest expenses.
Shareholders’ funds increased 11% to KSh136.2 billion, while return on assets improved to 3.9% from 2.4%, and return on equity climbed to 26.8% from 20.2%.
The bank maintained its dominance in MSME financing, earning recognition as the Best Bank for MSME Financing at the Kenya Bankers Association Sustainable Finance Initiative Awards. It accounts for 45% of all bank lending to small and medium enterprises in Kenya.
The group’s balance sheet expanded 9% to KSh1.97 trillion, with customer deposits up 4% to KSh1.46 trillion and net loans growing 8% to KSh882.5 billion. Customer accounts reached 22.4 million, bolstered by its regional network and digital platforms.
Total income grew 12% to KSh217.7 billion, driven by 17% growth in net interest income to KSh126.9 billion and 7% in non-funded income to KSh90.8 billion.
Efficiency gains were evident as the cost-to-income ratio fell to 51% from 58.2%, thanks to digital migration and shared services. More than 98% of transactions occurred outside branches, with 88.4% processed digitally.
Asset quality strengthened, with loan loss provisions down 28% and non-performing loan coverage rising to 67.7%. The cost of risk stood at 1.7%.
Regional operations proved resilient, contributing roughly half of the group’s banking profitability.
In the Democratic Republic of Congo, profit after tax increased 58% to KSh24.7 billion, supported by 17% loan growth. Uganda saw a 500% jump to KSh3.6 billion, Rwanda reported KSh5.4 billion with 22% loan expansion, and Tanzania posted a 125% rise to KSh2.7 billion.
Overall, regional subsidiaries delivered 53% growth in profit after tax to KSh36.3 billion.
Insurance arm shows robust expansion
The insurance business accelerated, with Equity Insurance Group recording a 75% increase in gross written premiums to KSh9.17 billion and 36% growth in profit before tax to KSh2.0 billion. Insurance revenue surged 150% to KSh3.57 billion.
Equity Life Assurance achieved KSh1.77 billion in profit before tax, serving 6.9 million customers with 19.2 million policies issued since inception.
Equity General Insurance, in its first year, posted KSh1.79 billion in gross written premiums and KSh199 million in profit before tax. Equity Health Insurance, operational for four months, reported KSh20 million in premiums and KSh40 million in profit before tax.
Dr. James Mwangi, Equity Group CEO, attributed the results to deliberate transformation into a diversified regional financial services group.
“The 2025 performance reflects the success of our deliberate transformation into a diversified, regional financial services group,” Mwangi said. “We delivered strong profit growth by expanding and deepening our income streams, improving efficiency across the franchise, and strengthening the quality of our balance sheet. Importantly, our regional subsidiaries now contribute about half of our banking profitability, demonstrating the value of our pan-African footprint and the resilience that comes from diversification.”
The Equity Group Foundation advanced social impact, supporting 1,115 scholars with global scholarships, training nearly one million entrepreneurs, enabling over 500,000 MSMEs to access KSh401 billion in credit, and empowering 3.8 million farmers with climate-smart skills. It distributed over half a million clean energy solutions, planted 44.6 million trees, and provided healthcare to 4.6 million patients via the Equity Afya network.
Mwangi outlined continued execution of the 2030 strategy under the Africa Recovery and Resilience Plan, emphasizing scalable, secure, impact-led growth through digital and AI capabilities to enhance customer experience, risk management, and access to financial solutions.
Equity’s FY2025 results reinforce its leadership in East Africa, blending digital innovation, regional strength, and commitment to financial inclusion.
