Kenya’s KCB Group said operations in Kenya and South Sudan helped drive an 11 percent rise in full-year 2025 pre-tax profit, supported by stronger lending income.
The Nairobi-based lender reported pre-tax profit of 90.9 billion Kenyan shillings, or about $703.8 million, compared with 82 billion shillings recorded the previous year.
Operating across East and Central Africa, the bank said subsidiaries outside Kenya generated 31 percent of total pre-tax earnings during the reporting period.
Executives said regional operations, including South Sudan, continued strengthening earnings diversification as the bank deepened its cross-border presence in emerging markets.
Net interest income rose by 8 percent to 148.0 billion shillings, reflecting increased lending activity and improved returns from core banking operations.
The growth came as financial institutions across the region balanced rising credit demand with economic uncertainty and evolving monetary conditions.
Loan impairments increased slightly to 32.4 billion shillings, up from 30 billion shillings a year earlier, signalling persistent credit risks in some markets.
Finance director Lawrence Kimathi told an investor briefing the higher provisions reflected prudent risk management amid uneven economic recovery across operating countries.
Total assets grew by 9 percent to 2.15 trillion shillings, highlighting continued balance sheet expansion supported by lending growth and stronger customer deposits.
The results underscore KCB Group’s regional strategy, with cross-border banking increasingly shaping profitability and resilience across East Africa’s fast-changing financial landscape.
The Kenyan shilling traded at roughly 129.15 against the U.S. dollar during the reporting period, providing context for the bank’s dollar-based earnings comparison.
