Equity Bank has been named the Best Regional Bank in East Africa at the 2025 African Banker Awards, in recognition of its transformative role in advancing financial inclusion and economic development across the region.
The prestigious previllege, presented during a ceremony held on the sidelines of the African Development Bank Annual Meetings in Abidjan, celebrates institutions that have made outstanding contributions to Africa’s financial landscape. This year, Equity stood out for its impact-driven operations, customer-centric innovations, and unwavering support for small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs).
“We are deeply honoured by this recognition,” said Dr. James Mwangi, Managing Director and CEO of Equity Group. “This award is a proof to our commitment to delivering transformative financial services that empower individuals, businesses, and communities across East and Central Africa.”
He added that the award reaffirms the bank’s Africa Recovery and Resilience Plan, which supports key sectors such as agriculture, manufacturing, mining, health, education, and clean energy. “It validates our regional expansion model and highlights the importance of building inclusive, sustainable, and resilient economies across the continent,” Dr. Mwangi said.
Equity Bank has built an impressive footprint across East and Central Africa, serving over 22.4 million customers through a network of 402 branches, nearly 86,000 agents, 896 ATMs, and 37,825 POS terminals. Its digital platforms and 1.1 million “Pay with Equity” merchants have further democratized access to financial services, transforming how millions transact and save.
The African Banker Awards, now in their 19th year, are organized by African Banker magazine in partnership with the African Development Bank and the African Guarantee Fund, among others. This year’s awards aimed to spotlight institutions contributing to Africa’s financial sovereignty and resilience.
The award comes on the heels of another notable achievement, in 2024, global brand valuation consultancy Brand Finance ranked Equity as the second strongest financial brand in the world, further reinforcing its growing global stature.
With operations in Kenya, Uganda, Rwanda, Tanzania, South Sudan, the Democratic Republic of Congo, and a representative office in Ethiopia, Equity Bank continues to set the benchmark for regional banking excellence.