Equity Bank Crowned Best Bank in East Africa at 2025 African Banker Awards
- Equity Bank was named Best Regional Bank - East Africa at the 2025 African Banker Awards for its leadership in innovation, financial inclusion, and regional expansion
- Kenyan fintech 4G Capital won Fintech of the Year for its data-driven approach to microloans and customer education
- Tanzania’s CRDB Bank received the SME Bank of the Year award for its role in supporting SMEs in agriculture and manufacturing, contributing to job creation and economic resilience
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Elijah Ntongai, a journalist at TUKO.co.ke, has over four years of financial, business, and technology research and reporting experience, providing insights into Kenyan and global trends.
Equity Bank has been named the Best Regional Bank - East Africa at the prestigious 2025 African Banker Awards, cementing its status as a financial powerhouse in the region.
Source: Twitter
The award, announced on the sidelines of the African Development Bank (AfDB) Annual Meeting held in Abidjan, recognised Equity Bank's outstanding commitment to innovation, financial inclusion, and regional market expansion.
Organisers of the awards praised the Kenyan bank for its transformative role in the financial services sector, particularly its efforts to harness digital platforms and inclusive banking practices to serve millions across East Africa.
“It is an honour to declare Equity Bank as the winner of the Best Regional Bank award for East Africa. Your dedication to excellence and innovative practices has made a significant impact in the region. We applaud your efforts in promoting financial inclusion, advancing digital transformation, and driving market expansion. Congratulations on this exceptional recognition,” read a statement from the African Banker Awards team.
Over the past years, Equity Bank has expanded its footprint in the Democratic Republic of Congo, Rwanda, Tanzania, South Sudan, and Uganda, while also deepening its investment in mobile and digital banking services.
The bank has played a pivotal role in bridging the financial access gap, particularly among smallholder farmers, MSMEs, and underserved populations.
Who else won at the African Banker Awards 2025?
In other news, Kenyan fintech 4G Capital and Tanzania’s CRDB Bank emerged as standout winners at the 2025 African Banker Awards held in Abidjan.
4G Capital was named Fintech of the Year for its innovative, data-driven approach to serving underserved SMEs, particularly women-led businesses in Kenya and Uganda.
The company’s focus on microloans, digital services, and customer education has helped empower thousands of entrepreneurs and reduce lending risks. In a celebratory message on X, 4G Capital dedicated the win to its staff, investors, and MSME clients who are driving grassroots economic growth.
CRDB Bank took home the SME Bank of the Year award for its strong support of small and medium-sized enterprises, particularly in agriculture and manufacturing, enhancing job creation and economic stability in Tanzania.
Source: Twitter
Other major winners included the Trade and Development Bank (TDB), named Bank of the Year, and ATIDI, recognised as DFI of the Year for its role in facilitating cross-border trade.
Notably, Uganda Development Bank’s Patricia Ojangole was honoured as African Banker of the Year, praised for her transformative leadership.
The 19th edition of the awards also recognised leaders such as Olayemi Cardoso of Nigeria and Morocco’s Finance Minister Nadia Fettah for their outstanding contributions.
Proofreading by Jackson Otukho, copy editor at TUKO.co.ke.
Source: TUKO.co.ke
