Access Bank Kenya PLC delivered a notable improvement in its financial performance for the year ended December 31, 2025, significantly narrowing its losses on the back of strong revenue growth.
The lender posted a loss of KES 702.2 million compared to KES 997.1 million in FY2024. Net interest income rose by 65.4% to KES 516.3 million, driven by a KES 320 million decline in interest expenses to KES 791. 1 million. Non-funded income surged 194.5% to KES 331.2 billion, from KES 112.5 billion a year earlier. Consequently, the bank’s operating income rose sharply by 99.5% to KES 847.5 million.
Access Bank’s balance sheet strengthened despite a contraction in its loan book. Total assets stood at KES 16.2 billion, up 12.7% year-on-year, while loans and advances declined by 25.6% to KES 2.6 billion.
The bank’s gross non-performing loans edged up by 2.5% to KES 478.9 million, highlighting deteriorating asset quality. Liquidity ratio improved to 79.4%, nearly four times the minimum statutory requirement by the Central Bank of Kenya (CBK).
Access Bank Kenya’s Core Capital Falls Below CBK threshold
During the review period, Access Bank’s core capital grew seven-fold to KES 1.1 billion from KES 152.2 million. Despite this growth, the lenders core capital closed the year below the KES 3 billion minimum statutory requirement set by the Central Bank of Kenya (CBK).
Following the amendment of the Banking Act in 2024, the regulator requires commercial banks to progressively increase their minimum core capital to sustain growth and enhance resilience amid increasing risks. The reforms raised the minimum core capital from KES 1 billion to KES 10 billion. The increase will be implemented progressively over 5 years to allow banks to mobilize additional capital.
The banks’ Board of Directors plans to comply with the regulations through a proposed merger with the National Bank of Kenya (NBK), a wholly owned subsidiary of Access Bank Kenya’s parent company. In the period ended December 31, 2025, NBK’s core capital stood at KES 12.3 billion.
Also Read: HF Group Posts Record 250% Annual Growth at KES 1.61 Billion in FY2025
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