Equity Group Holdings Plc has reported a strong first-quarter performance for 2026, posting a 24% rise in Profit After Tax to KES19.1 billion, as the lender continues accelerating its transformation into a technology-driven pan-African financial services powerhouse. The Group’s balance sheet grew by 16% to KES2.04 trillion, supported by a 13% increase in customer deposits and a 9% growth in net loans, signaling sustained customer confidence and expanding economic activity across its markets.
The lender attributed the growth to increased lending in the retail, MSME, and public sector segments, alongside rising contributions from regional subsidiaries. Tanzania recorded the strongest growth, with profit after tax surging by 150%, while Rwanda and the Democratic Republic of Congo posted growth of 36% and 32% respectively. Regional subsidiaries now account for half of the Group’s banking profitability and more than half of total banking assets, underscoring the success of Equity’s pan-African expansion strategy.
Equity Bank Kenya also maintained its stronghold in MSME financing, disbursing 36.2% of all MSME loans issued in Kenya between January and March 2026. At the same time, Equity Insurance Group continued its upward momentum, recording a 30% increase in gross written premiums and a 53% rise in profit before tax, further strengthening the Group’s diversification strategy.
Digital Transformation and Efficiency Gains for Equity Group
The Group says its long-term investments in technology, digital banking, and artificial intelligence are increasingly shaping customer behavior and operational efficiency. According to Equity, 98.3% of all customer transactions are now happening outside physical branches, with nearly 90% processed through digital channels.
Operational efficiency also improved significantly during the quarter, with the cost-to-income ratio declining to 50.6% from 54.2%. The lender further strengthened its asset quality, reducing non-performing loans from 14% to 10%, while loan loss provisions fell by 18% due to improved collections, underwriting discipline, and enhanced analytics.
Equity Group Holdings has also intensified staff training in AI and digital skills as part of its future-readiness agenda. More than 80% of Group employees have completed generative AI training, with the institution continuing to modernize its technology infrastructure, payment systems, and risk management capabilities.
Positioning for Africa’s Future
Speaking on the results, Equity Group CEO Dr. James Mwangi said Equity is evolving beyond traditional banking into a “Transformation Finance Institution” focused on mobilizing capital, enabling ecosystems, and accelerating sustainable prosperity across Africa.
Beyond financial performance, the Equity Group Foundation continued expanding its impact across education, healthcare, financial inclusion, agriculture, and climate action. The Foundation now supports more than 12,800 active scholars and has facilitated over KES416 billion in credit access to MSMEs across the region.
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