NCBA Group PLC has posted a profit after tax of KES 6.0 billion for the first quarter ended March 2026, marking a 9 per cent growth compared to KES 5.5 billion recorded during a similar period in 2025.
The lender attributed the improved performance to sustained business growth, resilient customer activity and continued investment in digital banking and innovative financial solutions.
Key Group Financial Performance Highlights
• Operating income of KES 20.0 billion, 15.0 per cent up year on year.
• Profit before tax of KES 7.4 billion,9.0 per cent up year on year.
• Profit after tax of KES 6.0 billion, 9.0 per cent up year on year.
• Operating expenses of KES 9.7 billion, 9.0 per cent up year on year.
• Provision for credit losses was KES 2.5 billion, 56 per cent up year on year.
• Digital Loans disbursed were KES 391 million, 27 per cent up year on year.
• Customer deposits closed at KES 544 billion, 10.0 per cent up year on year.
• Total Assets closed at KES 741 billion, 13.0 per cent up year on year.
Reflecting on the results, NCBA Group Managing Director, John Gachora, remarked, “As we present our financial results for the first quarter of 2026, I am pleased to report that the Group has delivered a strong start to our new strategy anchored on four pillars:
Fortifying the Core, Scaling High-Growth Segments, Unlocking New Growth Frontiers and Powered by a Future Ready Ubuntu purpose-driven culture.”
“The Group delivered strong topline momentum, with operating income increasing by 15 per cent year-on-year, reflecting sustained business growth, improved revenue diversification and continued resilience across core operating segments.” “Increase in impairment charges to KES 2.5 billion was driven by a prudent approach to credit risk assessment given the heightened volatile operating environment.”
“Our capital position remained robust, with a total capital adequacy ratio of 21.8 per cent, well above the regulatory minimum of 14.5 per cent. The return on average equity (ROAE) remained stable at 18.4 per cent, reflecting our continued long-term
commitment to delivering value to our shareholders.”
Subsidiary Performance
NCBA Bank Kenya remained the Group’s main profitability driver, up 20 per cent year-on-year to reach a PBT of KES 6.5 billion. Regional operations in Uganda, Tanzania, and Rwanda remained steady, delivering a combined PBT of KES 707 million while nonbanking subsidiaries NCBA Investment Bank, NCBA Insurance, Leasing and BancAssurance collectively reported KES 641 million PBT. As part of the Group`s strategy to scale wealth solutions, the NCBA Investment Bank delivered strong outcomes with
Assets Under Management growing to KES 101.5 billion and the number of wealth customers crossing the 60,000 mark. Our strategy to embed insurance in every NCBA customer journey saw the insurance subsidiaries NCBA Insurance and BancAssurance grow total combined Gross Written Premiums (GWP) to KES 5.0 billion.
Key Business Highlights
On the strategic pillar to Fortify the Core, the Group improved its service uptime to 99.74 per cent on the back of new technology infrastructure investments including Cybersecurity protection, CRM driven customer experience plus AI powered
onboarding, credit and claims customer journeys. The growth of Digital Channels Net Promoter Score (NPS) to 62 and recognition of service excellence by the KBA 2025 Customer Experience Survey signaled strong customer advocacy and trust in the NCBA
Brand.
Additionally, the NCBA ConnectPlus upgraded online transactional banking solution continues to enhance customer experience for the significant KES 181 billion in lending and KES 211 billion in deposits corporate business. NCBA’s new strategy to scale high growth segments blends both traditional (regional branch footprint of 123) and digital channels to enable customers access multiple
financial services. In Asset Finance where NCBA leads with a 32 per cent market share, the digital vehicle trading platform CarDuka has onboarded close to 7 million users.
The newly launched KES 35 million digitally accessible SME lending product, NCBA BOOSTA will accelerate the KES 8.3 billion reported MSME Lending by NCBA in Q1 2026. The ongoing digital simplification for customers has resulted in 98 per cent of all transactions being digital and reinforced NCBA as the undisputed digital lender in the region, growing digital disbursements to KES 391 billion for Q1 2026
In deepening its commitment to community development, the Group positively impacted over 200,000 livelihoods in Q1 2026 through various social initiatives. Nearly 200 students received scholarships, and more than 200,000 trees were planted with partners such as the Kenya Forest Service and the National Forest Association of Uganda. Inclusive sports sponsorships and events benefited over 1,900 golfers and 800 cyclists, while creative economy activations empowered over 600 talented youth, helping nurture their creativity and unlock commercial opportunities. On the Green Financing mobilisation commitment, the Group was the lead arranger for the KMRC green bond raising KES 3 billion, was the Trustee and Receiving Bank for the KES 4.8 billion Two Rivers International Finance and Innovation Centre (TRIFIC) Green Income Real Estate Investment Trust (REIT)
and disbursed KES 190 million in green financing.
Looking Forward
Looking ahead, Gachora commented. “The proposed transaction with Nedbank Group Limited continues to progress in line with plan, with key deal milestones currently on track and proceeding as anticipated.”The Group has not experienced any material impact arising from the evolving Middle East geopolitical situation to date; however, management continues to closely monitor
developments and assess potential implications on markets, liquidity, inflation, and broader macroeconomic conditions.”
“Our disciplined execution strategy will continue to generate enduring value for our shareholders while embracing boundless possibilities guided by the UBUNTU philosophy of collective success.”