The Lower Eastern Times Opening The Third Eye
Equity Bank Holdings has recorded a 32 percent jump in net earnings for the first half of the year, driven largely by strong performance from its regional subsidiaries.
The lender’s net profit reached Sh45.5 billion in the period under review, up from Sh34.6 billion posted in the corresponding half of last year.
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Net interest income continued its upward climb, rising 17 percent to Sh69.3 billion from Sh59.3 billion, reflecting the strength of the Group’s lending business and disciplined management of its balance sheet.
Total income grew by 25 percent to Sh124.9 billion, up from Sh100.2 billion, propelled by a significant rise in nonfunded income, which expanded 36 percent to Sh55.6 billion from Sh40.9 billion. Nonfunded income now makes up 44.5 percent of the Group’s total income, up from 40.8 percent in the first half of 2025 — a shift that highlights Equity’s diversified business lines, geographic spread, and improving revenue mix.
The bank’s balance sheet also continued to expand, growing 20 percent to Sh2.16 trillion. This growth was underpinned by a 21 percent increase in customer deposits to Sh1.6 trillion and a 19 percent rise in net loans to Sh981 billion, signaling sustained customer confidence and robust credit demand across the markets Equity operates in.
Shareholders’ funds grew 27 percent to Sh350 billion, further strengthening the Group’s capital position. Equity now serves 23.3 million customers across its various digital platforms.
Speaking at an investors’ briefing in Nairobi on Wednesday morning, Equity Bank Group Managing Director James Mwangi attributed the strong performance to resilient economic growth across the region.
He described the bank’s half-year 2026 results as the product of a multi-year transformation strategy centered on resilience, diversification, and technology-driven growth, noting that the Group has repositioned its operating model, deepened its regional footprint, and invested heavily in digital and AI-enabled capabilities to build an institution prepared for the future.
