NCBA Group’s half-year profits rise 12% to Sh12.4bn

NCBA has reported 12 per cent growth in profit after tax to Sh12.4 billion for the half year period ended June 2026 driven by healthy business volumes, improved margins and continued customer activity.

PWBy: Ian
IN BRIEF:
  • Net interest income: +20.4% to Sh25.1bn
  • Non-interest income: +7.6% to Sh15.6bn
  • Loan loss provisions: +60% to Sh5.2bn
  • Profit after tax: +12.2% to Sh12.4bn
  • Earnings per share: +12% to Sh7.52
  • Interim dividends: Sh3.75 per share [2025: Sh2.50 per share]
  • Total assets: +11.5% to Sh739bn
  • Loan book: +20% to Sh345.9bn
  • Gross NPLs: +5.7% to Sh40.3bn
  • Customer deposits: +11% to Sh551 billion
Group consolidated performance
NCBA Group grew its profit after tax by 12 per cent to Sh12.4 billion, up from Sh billion a year earlier. The rise in profit was driven by strong operating income which grew 15 per cent from Sh billion to Sh40.7 billion.
Net interest income grew by 20.4 per cent to Sh25.1 billion from last year’s Sh20.8 billion driven by growth in interest income from government securities and a slight decline on interest expense on customer deposits.
Non interest income grew by 7.6 per cent to Sh15.6billion driven by 9.4 per cent growth in fees and commissions to Sh6.8 billion. Foreign exchange trading income grew 8.4% to Sh2.6 billion.
Commenting on the results, NCBA Group Managing Director John Gachora said:
“The first half of 2026 was marked by a dynamic operating environment with pressure on inflation and a cautious policy approach by the regional Central Banks. Our focused execution of the UBUNTU strategy has ensured that we delivered a resilient total income growth of 15.1 per cent reflecting healthy business volumes, improved margins and continued customer activity.”
The lender increased loan loss provisions by 60 per cent to Sh5.2 billion compared to Sh3.2 billion reported during the same period last year.
NCBA Group Managing Director, John Gachora, said the increase was necessary to position the bank to absorb any potential risks.
“We have increased provisions to Sh5.2 billion reflecting the realities of the current operating environment which positions us well to absorb potential risks.”
Subsidiaries performance
NCBA Bank Kenya grew profitability by 24.3 per cent to Sh13.7 billion driven by disciplined cost of funds management.
The regional subsidiaries (Uganda, Tanzania, Rwanda) delivered a combined Sh1.6 billion in profitability on the back of strong lending growth of 25 per cent year-on-year, income momentum and recovery opportunities.
Non-banking subsidiaries (NCBA Investment Bank, Leasing, Bancassurance and NCBA Insurance) delivered a combined profitability of Sh1.1 billion, a 40 per cent growth compared to the same period last year.
Dividends
The bank raised interim dividends to Sh3.75 per share, from the Sh2.50 per share paid last year. The dividend will paid to shareholders on the books as of August 28, 2026 on September 8, 2026.
Business Highlights
  • The Group scaled high-growth segments by expanding its wealth Assets Under Management to Sh101 billion and surpassing 60,000 active wealth clients.
  • Embedding insurance in every relationship contributed to the growth of NCBA Insurance and Bancassurance Gross Written Premiums to Sh2.1 billion and Sh2.3 billion respectively.
  • NCBA ConnectPlus, the recently launched best in class business banking platform, was scaled across the region to create a seamless and standardized offering.
  • The digital marketplace, CarDuka, sold vehicles worth KES 1.94 billion while the digital transport platform, KOMIUT, processed over Sh117million in collections.
  • In Retail Banking, the 123 branches across the region, digital onboarding and campaigns including BOOSTA for SMEs, EasyBuild for property finance, diaspora banking and segmented engagements helped acquire +10,000 new core bank customers per month and expand the retail loan book by 54 per cent.
  • The lender entered into strategic partnerships in Asset Finance to accelerate electric vehicle adoption and solar leasing uptake resulting to 30 per cent Asset Finance market leadership in Kenya.
Future outlook
The bank said the proposed Nedbank transaction is progressing as planned with the tender offer, which was oversubscribed by 121 per cent, successfully closing on July 10, 2026.
Completion of the transaction remains subject to the fulfilment of remaining conditions and regulatory approvals.




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