Equity Bank has been crowned the best in East Africa in this year’s African Banker Awards held in Abidjan, Ivory Coast.
On receiving the medal, the bank said the honour highlights its “significant role in deepening financial inclusion, empowering communities, and promoting economic development across East Africa.”
Equity added that its purpose-led approach, innovation, and “strong support” for small and medium-sized enterprises had been recognised through the continental award now in its nineteenth year.
James Mwangi, the bank’s MD and CEO, said they were “deeply honoured” and the award was “a testament to our commitment to delivering transformative financial services that empower individuals, businesses, and communities.”
In other regions, Commercial International Bank led in North Africa; BGFIBank Group led in Central Africa while GTBank emerged as West Africa’s finest.
Supported by the African Development Bank (AfDB) and partners, it celebrates excellence and innovation by recognising institutions and leaders that significantly impact the financial sector by driving growth through economic opportunities.
Omar Ben Yedder, the chair of the awards committee, said those who finance enterprises and individuals are the ones who feed them, as he quoted Thomas Sankara, who one said “those who feed you, rule you”.
Yedder reiterated that strong African-owned lenders were “critical to scaling development and banks like Equity are at the forefront of that mission.”
Listed in Kenya, Uganda, and Rwanda, Equity Bank operates in six markets, namely Kenya, Uganda, Rwanda, Tanzania, the DRC, and South Sudan. It has an asset base of $13.5 billion and 22.4 customers spread across 402 branches and thousands of agents.
During the ceremony, Trade and Development Bank Group was crowned the Bank of the Year. Other winners were Nedbank as the Sustainable Bank of the Year; 4G Capital (Fintech of the Year); African Trade and Investment Development Insurance (DFI of the Year); CRDB (SME Bank of the Year); and, Ecobank (AFAWA Bank of the Year).
Patricia Ojangole of the Uganda Development Bank ruled the roost as the Banker of the Year while the Lifetime Achievement gong went to Idrissa Nassa, the CEO of Coris Bank International as Olayemi Cardoso was named the Central Banker of the Year. Morocco’s Nadia Fettah Alaoui was celebrated as the Finance Minister of the Year.
