Kenyan Banks that appear on the list of Africa’s top 100 lenders are led by Equity Bank Group, placed at position 18, followed by state-owned Kenya Commercial Bank(KCB) Group at position 21, Cooperative Bank of Kenya (33) and Diamond Trust Bank(DTB) ranked 49th in Africa.
Absa Bank(Kenya), formerly Barclays Bank of Kenya(BBK) is placed 52nd, NCBA Group (59), Stanbic Bank Kenya (64). Prime Bank (74), Standard Chartered Bank Kenya (77), and Bank of Baroda (Kenya) at 99nd position bringing up the rear of Kenya’s top 10 Banks appearing on this list.
According to a Survey by The African Business Magazine, published by UK-based Pan African Media and Communications Group, these 10 Kenyan Banks appearing on the top 100 ranking makes Kenya the most well-represented Sub-Saharan nation, supported by strong performances from Equity and KCB.
This Annual Survey rank African lenders by Tier 1 Capital—the sum of a bank’s initial capital, reserves, and retained earnings—which reflects financial strength and stability.
Kenyan Banks on this top 100 in Africa list are joined by those from Egypt, and Nigeria, which have emerged as the strongest performers in the 2025 Top 100 African Banks ranking, reflecting the three nations’ growing influence in Africa’s fiercely competitive financial landscape.
Kenyan Banks and their balance sheet sizes
Kenyan banks on the list are led by Equity Group with an an asset base of US$ 13,968m, followed by KCB (US$ 15,188m), Coop Bank Kenya (US$ 5,752m) Diamond Trust Bank (US$ 4,051m) Absa Bank Kenya (US$ 3,920m), NCBA (US$ 4,221m), Stanbic Bank Kenya (US$ 3,446m), Prime Bank (US$ 1, 484m), Standard Chartered Bank(Kenya) US$ 2,736m, and Bank of Baroda(Kenya) with an asset base of US$ 1,552m).
Equity Group and KCB have been aggressive in their regional expansion strategy across Eastern Africa and are both keen on the Ethiopian market, now opening up to foreign players following liberalization of various sectors from state-control.
NCBA Poised to Become Kenya’s Third Largest Lender
Egypt has emerged as the standout performer in the 2025 list of Africa’s Top 100 Banks, with 17 entries more than any other country, followed by Kenya and Nigeria, which each have 10.
The ranking reflects both the growing strength of North Africa’s financial sector and the continued expansion of Kenyan banking powerhouses across the region.
Analysts at Abojani Investment, a personal finance advisory firm in Kenya, maintain that Q4 is shaping up to be the strongest quarter of the year for banks. The optimism is rooted in rising loan volumes, firmer non-funded income, and a rebound in private sector lending.
South Africa retains its financial dominance with Standard Bank Group leading the rankings in Tier 1 capital and profitability. South African lenders have a huge footprint in the Kenyan banking business, with substantial presence through their subsidiaries- Absa Bank Kenya and Stanbic Bank Kenya.
Unconfirmed reports indicate that South Africa’s Standard Bank Plc, Africa’s largest bank is in discussions to acquire Kenyan lender NCBA, in a deal that could create Kenya’s third biggest lender.
According to the 2025 report, the continent’s top 100 banks collectively hold a combined Tier 1 capital of $126 billion, a moderate rise from $120 billion in 2024 but still below the $135.3 billion recorded in 2022.
Despite global economic headwinds, digital transformation, and competition from fintech players, Kenyan leading banks managed a steady performance over the past year.
While Egypt and Kenya dominate in numbers, South Africa continues to lead in financial muscle.
Standard Bank Group retained its first position with a capital of US$11.7 billion and a profit of US$2.7 billion, making it Africa’s most profitable bank.
Other South African banks – FirstRand at position 4, Absa Bank (5), and Nedbank (8) ensured South Africa maintains its position as the continent’s financial heavyweight.
