Abidjan, Côte d’Ivoire – Equity Bank has been crowned Best Regional Bank in East Africa at the prestigious 2025 African Banker Awards held in Abidjan, Côte d’Ivoire. This accolade underscores the bank’s pivotal role in advancing financial inclusion, empowering communities, and driving sustainable economic growth across the East African region.
Equity Bank’s recognition highlights its strong presence and influence, achieved through a purpose-driven business model, customer-focused innovations, and unwavering support for small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs). The award reaffirms the growing impact of regional financial institutions in shaping Africa’s economic future.
Dr. James Mwangi, Equity Group Managing Director and CEO, welcomed the award, saying: “We are deeply honoured by this recognition. It affirms our commitment to delivering transformative financial services that uplift individuals, businesses, and communities across East and Central Africa. This milestone validates our regional expansion strategy and aligns with our Africa Recovery and Resilience Plan, which seeks to build inclusive, sustainable, and resilient economies by supporting key growth sectors such as agriculture, manufacturing, mining, MSMEs, health, education, and clean energy.”
Now in its 19th year, the African Banker Awards celebrate excellence and innovation in Africa’s banking industry. Organised with the support of the African Development Bank and partners like the African Guarantee Fund, the awards recognise institutions and leaders making significant contributions to the continent’s financial landscape.
During the ceremony, Omar Ben Yedder, Chair of the Awards Committee, remarked on the vital role of African financial institutions: “Thomas Sankara once said, ‘The ones who feed you, rule you.’ Today, we might say, ‘The ones who finance you, empower you.’ Strong African-owned banks are critical to scaling development, and institutions like Equity are leading that charge.”
Equity Bank’s journey began with a mission to democratize access to financial services and drive inclusion. Under its Africa Recovery and Resilience Plan, the Group has shifted focus towards financing trade and investments that spur Africa’s socio-economic transformation, while national governments provide the enabling environment for sustained wealth creation.
Operating in six African markets — Kenya, Uganda, Rwanda, Tanzania, South Sudan, and the Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC) — and with a representative office in Ethiopia, Equity Group serves over 22 million customers. Through integrated financial solutions and a commitment to shared prosperity, Equity continues to champion the region’s economic transformation.