Nairobi, Kenya — Equity Group Holdings Plc has reported a strong financial performance for the first half of 2026, with profit after tax rising by 32% to KSh45.5 billion, up from KSh34.6 billion recorded during the same period last year.
The growth was supported by stronger balance sheet performance, increased contributions from regional subsidiaries and a rise in non-funded income.
Net interest income increased by 17% to KSh69.3 billion from KSh59.3 billion, while total income grew by 25% to KSh124.9 billion from KSh100.2 billion. Non-funded income rose by 36% to KSh55.6 billion and now accounts for 44.5% of the Group’s total income.
The Group’s balance sheet expanded by 20% to KSh2.16 trillion, driven by a 21% increase in customer deposits to KSh1.59 trillion and a 19% rise in net loans to KSh981 billion. Shareholders’ funds also increased by 27% to KSh350 billion.
Equity Group Managing Director and CEO, Dr James Mwangi, attributed the performance to the Group’s multi-year transformation strategy, which focuses on resilience, diversification, regional expansion and technology.
He said the economic outlook across the markets where Equity operates remains positive, with Uganda projected to grow by 6.4%, Kenya by between 4.5% and 5%, Rwanda by 6.8%, Tanzania by 5.9%, the Democratic Republic of Congo by 5.6% and South Sudan by 20%.
Technology continues to play a major role in Equity’s operations, with 98.3% of transactions now taking place outside branches and 89.7% processed through digital platforms.
The Group has also invested heavily in staff training and technology. According to the results, 82% of staff have completed a business-focused generative AI course, while 406 staff have been admitted to Master’s programmes in Financial Engineering and Applied AI through WorldQuant University.
Equity said these investments are intended to improve service delivery, strengthen risk management and support growth across its markets.
The Group also reported improvements in its loan portfolio and risk management.
Non-performing loans declined from 13.7% to 9.5%, while non-performing loan coverage improved from 68% to 70%. Loan loss provisions fell by 6% year-on-year, while the cost of risk improved from 1.7% to 1.4%.
Equity Bank Kenya recorded a 32% increase in profit after tax to KSh25.7 billion, compared with KSh19.5 billion in the first half of 2025. Its assets grew by 13%, deposits by 24% and loans by 8%.
Equity’s regional subsidiaries continued to make a significant contribution to the Group’s overall performance, accounting for 42% of banking profitability and 52% of revenue.
Equity BCDC in the Democratic Republic of Congo recorded a 30% increase in profit after tax to KSh11.8 billion, while Equity Rwanda’s profit after tax rose by 12% to KSh2.9 billion. Equity Tanzania posted the strongest growth, with profit after tax increasing by 82% to KSh2 billion.
The Group’s insurance business also recorded growth, with gross written premiums increasing by 24% to KSh6.4 billion and profit before tax rising by 34% to KSh1.25 billion.
Beyond financial services, the Equity Group Foundation continued its programmes in education, enterprise development, agriculture, climate action and healthcare.
The Foundation currently supports more than 11,663 active high school scholars and has cumulatively supported 60,009 scholars through the Wings to Fly and Elimu scholarship programmes.
It has also trained more than one million entrepreneurs and facilitated over KSh436 billion in credit access to micro, small and medium enterprises across the region.
The Foundation has also planted more than 48.7 million trees and expanded its climate and clean-energy initiatives. Equity Group has additionally received accreditation as a Direct Access Entity to the Green Climate Fund, allowing it to directly mobilise climate finance for projects across Africa.
Equity Afya, meanwhile, has expanded to 156 medical centres, which have recorded more than 5.3 million patient visits.
Looking ahead, Equity Group says its 2030 strategy aims to expand its operations to 15 countries, serve 100 million customers and deploy next-generation digital and artificial intelligence-enabled systems to support transformation finance across Africa.
