Stanbic Bank Kenya has strengthened its commitment to supporting family-owned businesses through a new advisory-led proposition focused on governance, succession planning, working capital, growth financing, wealth continuity and cross-border expansion.
The announcement was made during the Stanbic Bank Kenya Family-Owned Business Executive Breakfast, which brought together multi-generational enterprises, family principals, privately owned business leaders and ecosystem stakeholders to discuss sustainable growth, legacy and long-term continuity.
Family Businesses Key to Kenya’s Economy
Family-owned businesses continue to play a major role in Kenya’s enterprise landscape, driving employment, entrepreneurship, trade, innovation and intergenerational wealth creation.
According to the Kenya Bankers Association and the Japan International Cooperation Agency MSME Survey Report, Micro, Small and Medium Enterprises employ more than 15 million people and contribute about 30 per cent to Kenya’s national value added.
Globally, family businesses are also experiencing significant transformation. Findings from PwC’s 11th Global Family Business Survey revealed that 43 per cent of family businesses recorded double-digit sales growth in the previous financial year, up from 21 per cent in 2021.
The survey, which covered 2,043 family business leaders across 82 countries, also highlighted increasing pressure on businesses to strengthen governance, trust, sustainability and long-term purpose.
Beyond Traditional Banking
Speaking during the forum, Florence Wanja said family-owned businesses require financial partners who understand both the enterprise and the family behind it.
“For family-owned businesses, it is never just business. It is livelihood, identity, reputation and continuity. These businesses are legacy institutions, and their next phase of growth requires trusted partners who understand both the enterprise and the family behind it,” she said.
Stanbic Bank noted that its proposition is designed to offer practical support beyond traditional banking products, recognising that business decisions often affect family relationships, ownership structures, employees and future generations.
“Our role is not to start with a product. Our role is to start with the family’s ambition, the business’s growth path and the legacy that needs to be protected. Stanbic is the bridge between family and enterprise, and between local success and global opportunity,” Ms Wanja added.
Offshore Proposition to Support Global Expansion
As part of the initiative, Stanbic Bank Kenya also introduced an Offshore Proposition aimed at supporting family-owned businesses seeking international banking solutions, foreign-currency capabilities, wealth diversification and access to global financial opportunities.
The bank said the proposition will help businesses manage cross-border transactions, succession structuring, international trade and multi-currency operations more strategically.
“Offshore is not about complexity. It is about control. For family-owned businesses, it creates the ability to diversify, protect wealth, structure succession and participate in global opportunities while remaining anchored in local trust,” said Ms Wanja.
Focus on Long-Term Legacy
Stanbic Bank Kenya said the proposition is particularly relevant for enterprises transitioning from founder-led operations into professionally governed, multi-generational institutions.
The lender noted that many businesses are currently navigating leadership succession, regional expansion, capital readiness and wealth continuity challenges.
“Legacy is not static. Each generation has a responsibility to renew it. The businesses that will endure are those that preserve their values while building the structures, capital base and global outlook needed for the future,” Ms Wanja said.
Leveraging Regional and Global Reach
Standard Bank Group, the parent company of Stanbic Bank Kenya, operates across Africa and international markets, giving the lender the ability to combine local expertise with global financial capabilities.
Stanbic Bank Kenya said it will continue engaging family-owned businesses through advisory-led platforms, sector discussions and tailored financial solutions aimed at supporting sustainable growth, continuity and cross-border expansion.