NAIROBI, Kenya, 6 August 2026 – Stanbic Holdings Plc has reported a resilient financial performance for the first half of 2026, posting a Profit After Tax (PAT) of KES 6.6 billion while strengthening its balance sheet and deepening support to key sectors of the Kenyan economy.
 
The Group's total assets grew by 27% to KES 602 billion, while customer deposits increased by 28% to KES 422 billion, underscoring sustained customer confidence and reinforcing Stanbic's position as one of Kenya's leading financial institutions.
 
Customer loans rose by 24% to KES 290 billion, driven by continued lending to sectors critical to Kenya's economic growth. This financing supported business expansion, stimulated consumer spending, and contributed to job creation across the country.
 
Commenting on the results, Dr Joshua Oigara, Chief Executive, Stanbic Holdings Plc, said the performance reflects the Bank's disciplined execution, resilience, and unwavering commitment to creating long-term value.
Stanbic Bank Kenya Chief Finance and Value Officer, Dennis Musau during the Stanbic Holdings PLC Half Year 2026 Financial Results.
 
"Our performance in the first half demonstrates the discipline and resilience that continue to define our business. We remain well-capitalised, deeply customer-centric, and steadfast in our commitment to support Kenya's economic growth. Our prudent risk management approach and continued investments in technology are enhancing client experience while strengthening shareholder value."
 
These results come at a time when Kenya's banking sector continues to adapt to significant shifts in the credit market, including the full transition to the risk-based pricing framework anchored on the Kenya Shilling Overnight Interbank Average (KESONIA) benchmark rate. The sector is also operating against a backdrop of measured monetary policy, geopolitical uncertainty, elevated energy costs, and a dynamic global economic environment.
 
Against this backdrop, Stanbic Holdings Plc maintained strong momentum in executing its growth strategy while preserving prudent risk discipline. The Bank delivered a credit loss ratio of 0.5%, among the strongest
performances in the sector, and maintained robust asset quality, with non-performing loans (NPLs) of 7.73%, significantly below the industry average.
 
Dennis Musau, Chief Financial and Value Officer, Stanbic Bank Kenya, attributed the performance to disciplined strategy execution and the improving economic environment.
 
"Our half year financial performance reflects a disciplined balance between revenue growth, cost optimisation, and proactive risk management. While the operating environment remains dynamic, our strategic investments, execution discipline, and strong risk management framework position us well to capture opportunities and deliver sustainable value for our stakeholders.
 
The rebound in private-sector credit signals a healthier operating environment, and we are well positioned to support this growth while maintaining strong risk discipline, enabling sustainable and high-quality earnings as the credit cycle continues to normalise."
 
The Group continued to support sectors that are fundamental to Kenya's economic development, including trade, energy, agriculture, and manufacturing. During the period, it played a leading role in several landmark transactions, including the Kenya Pipeline Corporation IPO, Safaricom share-related transactions, and Kenya's government-to-government (G-to-G) petroleum importation programme, supporting national energy security and economic stability.
 
In addition, the Group extended over KES 21 billion in financing to Small and Medium Enterprises (SMEs), reinforcing its commitment to entrepreneurship, business growth, and job creation.
 
The Group further deepened its support for the MSME sector through the Stanbic Foundation, extending KES 181 billion in concessionary lending to help entrepreneurs start, sustain, and scale their businesses.
Beyond lending, Stanbic continued to grow its wealth and investment businesses, with assets under management increasing by 63% to KES 7 billion as clients sought more diversified investment and wealth creation solutions.
 
As part of its digital transformation agenda, Stanbic Holdings Plc introduced new functionalities on its mobile banking platform and launched Dynamic Currency Conversion capabilities across its ATM network, improving convenience, accessibility, and overall customer experience.
 
Stanbic's customer base grew to 258,000 customers, representing 6% year-on-year growth, reflecting the success of its customer-centric strategy and continued investment in digital innovation.
 
Commenting on the outlook, Dr Oigara said, "Despite prevailing macroeconomic headwinds, our strategic priorities remain clear: supporting our clients' growth ambitions, accelerating our digital transformation agenda, strengthening our balance sheet, and delivering sustainable value for our shareholders."
 
The Group's strong performance was also reflected in the capital markets, with Stanbic ranking among the top three best-performing banking stocks on the Nairobi Securities Exchange (NSE) during the period.
 
Stanbic received several accolades during the period including Best Bank in Tier 1 at the Think Business Awards,  Winner, Mergers and Acquisitions Financial Advisor by Deal Flow at the 2025 Dealmakers Africa Annual Awards and Best Investment Bank in Kenya by Euromoney Awards.
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