Equity Group has reported a 17 percent rise in profit after tax to KSh 34.6 billion for the half year ended June 2025, up from KSh 29.6 billion a year earlier, marking a strong performance midway through an ambitious self-disruption and transformation programme.
The results reflect the execution of the Group’s Africa Recovery and Resilience Plan (ARRP) and its 2030 strategic plan, which aim to expand operations to 15 countries and reach 100 million customers. Over the past four years, the lender has overhauled governance, leadership, systems and infrastructure, deploying fourth industrial revolution technologies, artificial intelligence, and advanced data analytics to support its next growth phase.
Cost control contributed to the earnings growth, with total costs down 2 percent, aided by a 34 percent drop in loan loss provisions. Net interest income rose 9 percent, helped by an 18 percent decline in interest expenses. The loan book grew 4 percent to KSh 825.1 billion, customer deposits increased 2 percent to KSh 1.32 trillion, and total assets were up 3 percent to KSh 1.8 trillion.
Regional subsidiaries now contribute nearly half of the Group’s deposits, loans, and revenue. In Kenya, profit after tax jumped 40 percent to KSh 19.5 billion, while in the Democratic Republic of Congo it rose 22 percent to KSh 9.1 billion. Rwanda posted a 21 percent asset growth, Tanzania’s profit climbed 75 percent, and Uganda’s earnings grew 40 percent.
Beyond banking, Equity’s insurance arm reported a 26 percent rise in profit before tax, driven by 115 percent growth in gross written premiums. Its life insurance unit is now the second largest group credit insurer in Kenya by market share. Digital channels dominate customer engagement, with 87.4 percent of transactions now taking place online.
The Group continues to invest heavily in social impact through the Equity Group Foundation, committing USD 715 million to education, health, energy, environment, and enterprise development. The foundation has awarded over 29,500 university scholarships, planted 36.4 million trees, and distributed more than 520,000 clean energy products.
Equity Bank was named Best Regional Bank in East Africa at the 2025 African Banker Awards and retained its position as Kenya’s most valuable brand for the second consecutive year. Chief Executive Dr James Mwangi said the transformation is creating resilience in performance, with quarter-on-quarter growth expected to continue as the Group pursues its pan-African expansion.