NCBA Group has reported a 12.6 percent jump in profit after tax to Ksh 11.1 billion for the first half of 2025, buoyed by strong growth across its banking, insurance, and investment arms. The stellar performance enabled the Board of Directors to declare an interim dividend of Ksh 2.50 per share.
Group Managing Director John Gachora described the results as a reflection of resilience and operational excellence despite a challenging economic environment. “The income growth of 13 percent was driven by a combination of operational excellence and prudent pricing management. Our focus on maintaining high quality assets was evident with an NPL ratio of 11.9 percent and cost of risk at 1.4 percent,” he said. The bank maintained a capital adequacy ratio of 22.4 percent, comfortably above regulatory requirements.
NCBA Bank Kenya was the biggest contributor, delivering Ksh 11 billion in profit before tax, a 7.4 percent year-on-year growth and accounting for 81 percent of Group profitability. This was largely supported by improved cost of funding and a 32 percent rise in Net Interest Income. Regional subsidiaries also performed strongly, posting a combined PBT of Ksh 1.8 billion, while non-banking businesses contributed Ksh 804 million, up 40 percent.
The NCBA Investment Bank grew assets under management to Ksh 86 billion, surpassing 50,000 clients through digital onboarding. Meanwhile, NCBA Insurance posted a 68 percent jump in profitability following its full integration into the Group.
Customer growth also remained robust, with the Group expanding its branch network to 122, including the 100th branch in Kenya. Its overall customer base approached 70 million, supported by digital innovations such as account onboarding, SME banking activations, and the popular “CarDuka” and “ConnectPlus” platforms.
Looking ahead, Mr. Gachora remained upbeat, citing stable macroeconomic indicators, including inflation at 4.1 percent and a favorable interest rate environment. “NCBA remains committed to delivering strong financial performance backed by continued strategic investments in people, technology and brand while fostering a customer-obsessed culture to drive sustainable growth,” he added.
