KCB Bank Kenya has emerged as the country’s largest bank by market share, commanding 17.3 percent of the banking sector, according to the Central Bank of Kenya’s Bank Supervision Annual Report 2025.
The lender was followed by Equity Bank at 11.8 percent and Co-operative Bank at 9.4 percent, placing KCB at the top of the market based on the CBK index.
KCB’s position was further reflected in the size of its balance sheet, with net assets standing at Ksh1.50 trillion, equivalent to 17.9 percent of the sector. The bank also led in customer deposits, holding Ksh1.15 trillion, or 18 percent of the market.
The lender recorded a profit before tax of Ksh63.7 billion and core capital of Ksh183 billion, while its Return on Equity (ROE) stood at 28.4 percent.
KCB Leads in Lending, Regional Reach and Financial Access
KCB’s gross loans grew by 18.8 percent to Ksh1.01 trillion, making it the only Kenyan bank to surpass the Ksh1 trillion mark. The growth was nearly three times the sector’s 6.8 percent increase in gross loans.
The bank also maintained the largest regional branch network among Kenyan banks, with 239 branches across Tanzania, Uganda, Rwanda, Burundi, South Sudan and the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC).
CBK attributed part of the growth in regional branch networks in 2025 to new KCB branches in Tanzania and Uganda.
Within Kenya, KCB had 22,413 agents, making it the country’s second-largest bank agency network. The bank also reported 12.4 million deposit accounts and 1.33 million loan accounts.
KCB’s capital position also remained above regulatory requirements, with total capital to risk-weighted assets standing at 22.3 percent against a minimum requirement of 14.5 percent.
Its core capital ratio stood at 17.0 percent, compared with the regulatory minimum of 10.5 percent.
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Banking Sector Records Stronger Financial Performance
KCB’s performance came against a backdrop of improved financial strength across Kenya’s banking sector in 2025.
According to CBK Governor Dr Kamau Thugge, the sector remained resilient despite global challenges including moderating inflation, changing trade dynamics and geopolitical tensions in the Middle East and Eastern Europe.
The sector’s total net assets increased by 10.3 percent to Ksh8.35 trillion, while customer deposits rose by 11.6 percent to Ksh6.12 trillion. Profit before tax also increased by 17.7 percent to Ksh306.3 billion.
Gross loans grew by 6.8 percent during the year, while the sector’s average liquidity ratio rose to 59.3 percent, well above the statutory minimum of 20 percent.
Asset quality also improved, with the ratio of gross non-performing loans to gross loans declining from 17.1 percent to 16 percent.
The sector’s total capital adequacy ratio stood at 20.7 percent in December 2025, above the regulatory minimum of 14.5 percent, highlighting the banking industry’s strong capital position.
