Nigeria's Zenith Bank Completes Paramount Bank Kenya Acquisition
Zenith Bank Plc has completed the acquisition of Paramount Bank Kenya Limited, gaining its first East African foothold. The deal covers the bank's entire share capital plus subsidiaries PB Capital and Paramount Bancassurance. Paramount posted a KSh370 Mn profit in FY2025 on total assets of KSh17.11 Bn. The acquisition price was not disclosed.
Central Bank of Kenya Holds Rate Steady at 8.75%, Flags Middle East Conflict as Key Risk
The Central Bank of Kenya held its benchmark rate at 8.75% on April 8, pausing a record 10-consecutive-cut easing streak for the first time since June 2024. The MPC cited rising oil prices driven by the Middle East conflict, with Murban crude up from USD 63 in December 2025 to nearly USD 98 by late March 2026. Inflation stood at 4.4% in March, the current account deficit projection was revised up to 3.0% of GDP for 2026, and GDP growth was revised down to 5.3%.Afreximbank Commits US$10 billion to Shield African and Caribbean Economies
Afreximbank will avail US$10 billion under its Gulf Crisis Response Programme (GCRP) to insulate African and Caribbean economies, financial institutions and corporates from the impact of the ongoing Gulf crisis.
Kenya's FX Stability Anchors I&M Bank’s Push for Transparent, Real-Time Currency Trading via FX Direct
Kenya’s foreign exchange market has entered a period of notable stability, underpinned by strong macroeconomic fundamentals, rising diaspora inflows, and resilient export sectors, according to Henry Kirimania, Director of Global Markets at I&M Bank.
AfDB Outlook Report Projects Africa's GDP Will Grow by 4.5% GDP in 2027
Africa's real GDP growth is projected to stabilise at 4.3 percent in 2026 and grow further to 4.5 percent in 2027, the 2026 Africa Macroeconomic Performance and Outlook (MEO) reportIslamic Development Bank Institute (IsDBi) Launches ‘Essentials of Islamic Finance’ Book
The Islamic Development Bank Institute (IsDBI) has launched ‘Essentials of Islamic Finance’, a new book offering an in-depth analysis of the foundational principles of Islamic financeHF Group Completes Turnaround With Record Profit and Tier II Status
HF Group PLC posted a record profit after tax of KShs 1.42 billion for the full year ended 31 December 2025, the highest in the institution's history, as net interest income expanded 63.8% to KShs 4.36 billion. The result was driven by a 66% build-up in government securities to KShs 28.27 billion and a 22% reduction in the weighted deposit rate. Total assets reached KShs 82.40 billion. The banking subsidiary HFC was reclassified as a Tier II bank by the CBK in August 2025.Standard Investment Bank Profit Soars 966% to KSh 1 Bn as Mansa X, Ziidi Drive Record Year
Standard Investment Bank recorded a near-tenfold increase in profit to KES 1.040 billion for the full year ended 31 December 2025, up from KES 97.50 million, driven by a 202.5% rise in financial services revenue to KES 1.553 billion. The Mansa X Special Fund KES closed the year with total assets of KES 107.708 billion, delivering a 20.74% net return to clients. The Ziidi Money Market Fund, co-managed with ALA Capital for Safaricom, reported net assets of KES 15.48 billion for the 14-month period ended December 2025. SIB also broke ground on a KES 3 billion, 32-floor headquarters in Westlands, Nairobi.Afreximbank Underwrites US$ 2.5bn in Dangote Refinery's US$ 4bn Loan
African Export-Import Bank (Afreximbank) has underwritten US$2.5 billion in the US$4-billion senior syndicated term loan in favour of Dangote Petroleum Refinery and Petrochemicals FZE (DPRP).Afreximbank Raises US$ 2bn in Oversubscribed Three-Year Loan
The African Export-Import Bank (Afreximbank) has concluded a new three-year Dual Tranche Syndicated Term Loan Facility totaling US$2 billion equivalent.Family Bank Posts Record KSh 5.4Bn Profit Ahead of NSE Debut
Family Bank Group posted a record profit after tax of KSh 5.38 billion in the full year ended December 2025, up 55.4% from KSh 3.46 billion in 2024. Net interest income rose 46.1% to KSh 15.63 billion as total assets crossed KSh 208.7 billion. The lender raised KSh 8 billion through an oversubscribed private placement in December 2025, lifting core capital to KSh 24.4 billion. Family Bank is scheduled to list on the Nairobi Securities Exchange by introduction in May 2026, with Standard Investment Bank advising on the transaction.DTB Kenya Completes Burundi Divestiture, Subsidiary Profit Collapsed 56% in Final Year
Diamond Trust Bank Kenya has completed the sale of its entire 83.67% shareholding in Diamond Trust Bank Burundi S.A. to a consortium of primarily Burundian investors, closing a 16-year regional presence that began in 2009. The transaction, completed on 31 December 2025, followed regulatory approval from the Bank of the Republic of Burundi. DTB Burundi had contributed just KSh 50.6 million to group pre-tax profit in FY2024, down 56% year-on-year, as total assets contracted from KSh 5.9 billion to KSh 4.6 billion amid Burundi's 39% inflation environment.
