By The Weekly Vision Business Desk
NCBA Group has posted a profit after tax of KSh 16.4 billion in its Q3 2025 financial results, an 8.5 per cent increase compared to KSh 15.1 billion reported for the same period in 2024. Profit before tax stood at KSh 20.5 billion, up 11.1 per cent year on year. Operating income rose to KSh 53.4 billion, a 13.8 per cent increase year on year, while operating expenses climbed to KSh 27.9 billion, up 14.0 per cent year on year.
According to the financial statement released on Wednesday, 19 November, provisions for credit losses amounted to KSh 5.1 billion, a 24.5 per cent rise year on year. The lender disbursed digital loans totalling KSh 1 trillion, up 35 per cent year on year, while customer deposits closed at KSh 488 billion, down 5.3 per cent year on year.NCBA’s total assets, however, closed at KSh 665 billion, down 2.0 per cent year on year.
NCBA Group Managing Director John Gachora noted: “We are pleased to announce our financial results for the third quarter of 2025, marked by strong growth in profitability, resilient NPL coverage of 68.9 per cent, dynamic subsidiary performance and continued focus on making our customers’ lives easier in a broadly stable operating environment. Our profitability was driven by prudent cost-of-funding management and better asset quality.
Over the review period, regional subsidiaries demonstrated improved effectiveness in recovering bad debts, reflecting disciplined execution of remedial actions. Our balance sheet remained solid, with assets and customer deposits impacted by pricing adjustments and softer lending activities across the markets. “Our Kenya Bank subsidiary remained the key driver of Group PBT, with an 82 per cent contribution, while the regional subsidiaries delivered KSh 2.6 billion PBT, a 12.5 per cent contribution to the Group.
The non-banking subsidiaries, including the Investment Bank, Bancassurance, Leasing and NCBA Insurance, delivered a combined PBT growth of 48 per cent to reach KSh 1.2 billion, which was a 5.5 per cent contribution to Group PBT.”In line with the Group’s customer-obsession mission, NCBA Kenya Bank continued to enable more affordable borrowing by announcing its fifth base lending rate cut this year to 13.27 per cent per annum, while the ongoing monthly account maintenance fees waiver helped customers in Kenya and Rwanda navigate the macroeconomic environment with ease.
The Group’s ongoing retail network expansion now reaches 122 branches, with targeted product campaigns and enhanced customer engagement initiatives serving as key drivers of its customer acquisition strategy. Core retail banking customers were served through multiple key initiatives in Q3 2025, including segmented thought-leadership forums, diaspora banking activations in Australia and the Middle East, card loyalty promotions and digital account onboarding service innovations.
NCBA also reinforced its market share leadership in asset finance by revamping the PSV proposition, offering up to 90 per cent financing bundled with Komiut, the digital fare collection platform designed to simplify, secure and modernise revenue management for public transport operators. Additionally, the Group signed vehicle financing MoUs with Mobikey and Car & General and, to advance sustainable transport, partnered with CFAO Mobility (Loxea) to finance electric vehicles, including up to 90 per cent financing for the latest BYD Shark 6 plug-in hybrid pickup.
The Group officially launched its upgraded Corporate Banking digital platform, NCBA ConnectPlus, to customers, becoming the first bank in East Africa to deploy Intellect’s cloud-based banking solution. The platform, which has already onboarded more than 20,000 Kenyan customers, will be rolled out in Uganda, Tanzania and Rwanda to provide upgraded corporate banking services for all East African clientele.
NCBA also partnered with renowned music producer Motif Di Don on his Elev8 LIVE music platform, designed to discover, onboard and elevate new music artists. Serving as the Group’s pilot entry into the creative economy, which contributes 5.3 per cent to Kenya’s GDP (valued at US$110 billion) and supports over 300,000 creative entrepreneurs, Elev8 LIVE lays the foundation for developing tailored financial products.
This initiative underlines NCBA’s vision to bridge crucial gaps, such as access to finance and financial literacy, that have long challenged artists and creative enterprises. Gachora noted: “Overall, the business environment across the region is expected to remain relatively steady, with sustained strong policy management to enable resilient credit growth. According to our in-house projections for Kenya specifically, we now expect overall output to close at 5.0 per cent in 2025, slightly up from our forecast of 4.8 per cent last year.
Following this improved momentum, we see economic growth closing at 5.1 per cent in 2026. “For the last quarter of the year, we will focus on disciplined balance sheet management and prudent risk practices to ensure sustainable long-term growth. The Group remains adequately capitalised to fuel new opportunities; our strategic business diversification enhances our ability to adapt to evolving market conditions; and our 3,900+ staff members remain committed to serving customers with excellence.”
