NCBA Reports KSh 23.4 Billion Profit, Higher Dividend and Unveils 2026–2030 Ubuntu Strategy

NCBA Group PLC has posted a profit after tax of KSh 23.4 billion for the full year ended 2025, representing a 7.0 percent increase from the KSh 21.9 billion reported in a similar period in 2024, as the lender also announced a higher dividend payout and unveiled a new five-year growth strategy.

The Grous performance translates into an enhanced dividend payout of KSh 11.7 billion, up from KSh 9.1 billion in 2024, underlining its commitment to delivering attractive returns to shareholders. The Board has recommended a final dividend of KSh 7.10 per share for the 2025 financial year.

Financial results released on March 27 show that profit before tax rose by 10.9 percent to KSh 27.9 billion, while operating income increased by 17.0 percent to KSh 73.3 billion. Operating expenses also rose by 17.0 percent to KSh 37.5 billion.

Provision for credit losses stood at KSh 8.0 billion, marking a 46.3 percent increase year on year, reflecting a more cautious stance in response to prevailing credit risks.

Digital lending continued to anchor growth, with KSh 1.4 trillion in digital loans disbursed during the year, representing a 33 percent increase compared to 2024. Customer deposits closed at KSh 532 billion, up 6.0 percent year on year, while total assets grew by 8.0 percent to KSh 716 billion.

Commenting on the results, Group Managing Director John Gachora described the 2025 performance as a milestone marking the successful conclusion of the Group’s 2020–2025 strategic plan.

“The 2025 outcomes are a great milestone to close out our 2020–2025 strategy. Over the last five years, disciplined execution and enhanced diversification of our business model have delivered a more robust institution with momentum to carry us forward,” he said.

Execution of the 2020–2025 Strategy

Over the five-year period, NCBA executed a strategy anchored on five key pillars.

Under its ambition to become a distinguished brand known for customer experience, the Group is now ranked among the Top 10 brands in Kenya and Top 100 in Africa’s Most Valuable Brands according to Brand Finance.

It also achieved a Net Promoter Score of 72 percent in 2025 and received recognition for excellence in customer service, sustainability, business solutions, people, and governance.

In retail banking, NCBA expanded its physical and digital footprint, growing its branch network from 89 in 2020 to 123 in 2025. This expansion, combined with innovative services and targeted campaigns, enabled the Group to double its core banking customer base.

The Group maintained leadership in corporate banking and asset finance, with a strong corporate deposit base of KSh 215 billion supported by a sector-focused model and disciplined pricing. Transaction banking volumes grew significantly, with over 20,000 customers adopting its regional cloud-based transactional platform, NCBA ConnectPlus.

The bank also sustained over 30 percent market share in asset finance since 2020, driven by strategic dealer partnerships and innovations such as the AI-powered Carduka platform, which has onboarded 6 million users.

Digital transformation remained a key driver, with investments in platforms, data capabilities, and partnerships with telecommunications companies enabling disbursement of KSh 1.4 trillion in digital loans across Sub-Saharan Africa. The digital business now contributes 32 percent of Group profitability, with profit before tax reaching KSh 9.0 billion.

The Group also focused on developing a high-performance culture, increasing its workforce from 2,512 employees in 2020 to over 4,000 in 2025. This focus on leadership development, skills building, and performance management led to NCBA being certified as a Top Employer 2026 by the Top Employers Institute.

Sustainability and Community Impact

In 2023, NCBA launched its “Change The Story” sustainability strategy, setting 15 commitments to be achieved by 2030. The Group has since mobilized KSh 9.5 billion in green and sustainable financing, planted over 1.3 million trees, and empowered 70,536 women and youth in the creative economy through skills development and mentorship.

The bank has recycled 83.6 percent of waste in select offices, engaged over 3,000 staff through sustainability training, and installed six electric vehicle charging stations across the region. It has also onboarded approximately 20 percent of its supply chain from women- and youth-led businesses.

Through community initiatives, NCBA has committed KSh 100 million annually and has impacted 1.2 million livelihoods to date.

The Group has also invested over KSh 200 million in golf development over the last five years, supporting more than 400 tournaments and engaging over 10,000 golfers annually in partnership with the Junior Golf Foundation, Kenya Golf Union, and the Professional Golfers of Kenya. It has also backed professional golfers, including Njoroge Kibugu, creating pathways for international exposure and scholarships.

In the creative economy, NCBA has partnered in the ELEV8 Live music platform in Kenya, supporting young creatives through mentorship, visibility, and tailored financial products developed in collaboration with HEVA Fund.

Subsidiary Performance

The Kenya banking subsidiary remained the Group’s main profit driver, contributing 82 percent of profit before tax and growing at a compound annual growth rate of 27 percent since 2020 to reach KSh 22.9 billion.

Regional banking subsidiaries delivered KSh 3.6 billion in profit before tax, recording over 100 percent CAGR compared to 2020 and contributing 13 percent to Group earnings, supported by balance sheet growth and lower impairment costs.

Non-banking subsidiaries—including investment banking, bancassurance, leasing, and insurance—recorded a combined profit before tax of KSh 1.9 billion, representing 28 percent CAGR since 2020 and contributing 5 percent of total Group profit.

This performance was led by the investment bank, which posted KSh 995 million in profit before tax driven by strong assets under management, now exceeding KSh 100 billion. NCBA Insurance recorded an 82 percent increase in profit before tax to KSh 306 million in its first full year as an integrated subsidiary.

New 2026–2030 Ubuntu Strategy

Building on its performance, NCBA has introduced its 2026–2030 Ubuntu strategy anchored on the purpose “Banking on Belief – Empowering Ambitions.”

The strategy will focus on four pillars: strengthening core operations through reliable services, data-driven growth, and improved product management; scaling high-growth segments such as wealth management, consumer banking, SMEs, and insurance; expanding into new markets and sectors; and transforming the operating model to build a purpose-driven and future-ready organization.

Proposed Nedbank Transaction

The Group also highlighted opportunities arising from a proposed acquisition by Nedbank Group, which seeks to acquire a 66 percent stake in NCBA.

The transaction is expected to enhance shareholder value through improved long-term returns, unlock liquidity, diversify risk beyond East Africa, and strengthen the Group’s capital base for expansion.

Customers are also expected to benefit from access to enhanced products and services, as well as international capabilities in markets such as London, Isle of Man, Jersey, and Dubai, alongside access to larger funding capacity.

In closing, Gachora expressed optimism about the Group’s future, thanking customers, employees, shareholders, regulators, and partners for their continued support.

NCBA operates 123 branches across Kenya, Uganda, Tanzania, Rwanda, and Ivory Coast, and remains a key player in corporate banking, asset finance, investment banking, and digital financial services, continuing to support Africa’s broader economic ambitions.