Co-op Bank Named ‘SME Bank of The Year’ at 2026 African Banker Awards

The Co-operative Bank of Kenya has been recognised as the ‘SME Bank of the Year in Africa’ at the 20th edition of the African Banker Awards.

The awards ceremony took place on 27th 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 patronage of the African Development Bank, the awards celebrate 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.

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“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,” said Group Managing Director & CEO of the Co-operative Bank of Kenya, Dr Gideon Muriuki. “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.”

The award adds to Co-op Bank 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.

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