Kingdom Bank hits jackpot with SMEs, rural push as net profit hits Sh946m

A woman pays using Visa card after buying clothes in s a second-hand store.[Getty Images]

SME focussed lender Kingdom Bank posted a 59 per cent surge in full-year profit, as its strategic gamble of aggressive branch expansion into underserved rural and small business markets appears to be paying off at a time larger rivals retreat to digital-only models.

Profit after tax climbed to Sh946.2 million for the year ended December 31, 2025, from Sh596.4 million a year earlier, the lender said in a statement. Total assets expanded 24 per cent to Sh51.17 billion, while net loans and advances jumped 58 per cent to Sh22.19 billion, driven by increased lending to micro, small, and medium-sized enterprises (MSMEs).