Small Construction Companies are Struggling to Repay Loans
The construction, mining, and hospitality sectors have the highest outstanding loans among micro, small, and medium enterprises (MSMEs), according to a recent CIS Kenya analysis. “Many sectors experienced volatility during [...]
Banks Push for Common Reference Rate for Loan Pricing
Kenya’s banking sector is pushing for an overhaul of the existing risk based pricing model to a common reference rate, arguing that the current framework has made it hard to [...]Stanbic Declares Record Dividend as Profits Hit KSh 13.7bn
Stanbic Holdings shares rallied to KSh 167.25 on Wednesday from KSh 157.75 after the lender reported it had registered a 12.8% growth in net profit. “We deliberately shielded our customers [...]CIB and Kenya Bankers Association Partner to Equip Kenyan Youth in the Finance Banking Sector with World-Class Banking Skills
In a move set to redefine career opportunities for young Kenyan professionals in the Finance Banking sector, Commercial International Bank (CIB) and the Kenya Bankers Association (KBA) have announced [...]
Hustler Fund Repayment Crisis as Defaults Hit 64%
The Hustler Fund, which is a government-backed lending program aimed at empowering small businesses and individuals, is facing a major repayment crisis as 64% of the Fund’s total loan portfolio—equivalent [...]Listed Banks' Market Cap Soars 311% Since 2006
Between 2006 and 2024, the banking sector's market cap on the Nairobi bourse grew by 311.5%, as listed lenders outpaced their unlisted peers. Kenya’s 11 listed banks have outperformed their [...]ABSA Bank Loses Appeal Over Retrospective Employee Benefits
In a landmark decision, the Court of Appeal in Nairobi has upheld a lower court’s ruling requiring ABSA Bank — previously Barclays Bank — to extend benefits from a backdated [...]Uganda Lobbies Against EU Anti-Money Laundering Grey Listing
Uganda is lobbying the European Union (EU) to expedite its removal from regional body's anti-money laundering and terrorism financing grey list, a year after it was removed from the Financial [...]
Microfinance vs. Digital Banking: What’s the Future?
In Kenya’s innovative financial space, two forces are reshaping access to credit and financial services, Microfinance and Digital Banking. Both have transformed how Kenyans save, borrow, and invest, but which one holds [...]
Half of Banked Kenyans Have More than One Account
Nearly half of the banked population in Kenyan market have multiple accounts, with the proportion of those owning single accounts declining in 2024 to 36.72% from 37.42% in 2023. “Multiple [...]Bankers Lobby Projects All Banks Will Lower Rates by End of February
The Kenya Bankers Association (KBA) is projecting that all banks will reduce interest rates on loans by the end of this month, after the latest benchmark rate cut by the [...]KCB, Co-op Bank Cut Lending Rates
Two major commercial banks moved to lower their base lending rates, following the Central Bank of Kenya’s decision to cut the benchmark rate to 10.75% on Wednesday last week. In [...]
