Equity Group has released its mid-year financial results, revealing strong regional growth and solid performance across its operations.
The bank’s expansion beyond Kenya into countries like Tanzania, Uganda, Rwanda, and South Sudan continues to drive its success, with significant contributions coming from its regional subsidiaries.
Speaking on Monday, August 11, 2025, James Mwangi, Equity Group Managing Director and CEO, highlighted the remarkable transformation in Tanzania, where the business has grown substantially. He noted that the bank achieved a 4 per cent Return on Assets and a 27 per cent Return on Equity there, strengthening Equity’s presence and impact in the region.
Mwangi also addressed the industry’s high non-performing loans, which currently stand at 17 per cent. He emphasised that Equity has maintained its NPLs at 13.7 per cent by anticipating this trend early and is now actively working to reduce these loans.
The group’s first insurance subsidiary, Equity Life Assurance, posted a 20 per cent increase in Profit Before Tax, reaching Ksh 890 million, reflecting the group’s growth beyond traditional banking.
Mwangi explained that while Equity began as a Kenyan bank with headquarters still in Kenya, it has grown into a regional bank, with half of its balance sheet now generated by subsidiaries across the region. In just three years, Equity Insurance Group’s assets have grown to Ksh 31 billion.
“We are no longer just a Kenyan banking group, but a financial group that brings banking and insurance together, recognising that there has already been a convergence between banking, technology, and insurance,” Mwangi said.
He also highlighted the strong contributions from the regional subsidiaries, which now account for 49 per cent of deposits, 50 per cent of the loan book, 48 per cent of assets, 50 per cent of revenue, and 46 per cent of profit before tax.
“We don’t want to be seen as a successful group enjoying success alone; we want to share it with our members, host communities, and the public.”
The bank offers initiatives for rural communities focusing on food and agriculture, education and leadership programs for young people, and programs targeting health, energy, and the environment for all.
The group’s balance sheet remains agile, with over 80 per cent of assets being interest-earning and a liquidity ratio of 58.5 per cent. Mwangi noted that the focus is not only on growing the balance sheet but also on optimising it by reallocating resources to the highest earning asset classes.
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