NCBA profit rises to Sh23b as Nedbank buyout nears

NCBA Bank headquarters, Upper Hill, Nairobi. [File, Standard]

As NCBA Group gears up for its acquisition by South African lender Nedbank Group, the bank has reported a profit after tax of Sh23.4 billion for the year that ended on December 2025, a seven per cent growth from the Sh21.9 billion reported in 2024.

The Nedbank deal, which is expected to be finalised by the third quarter and valued at $850 million (Sh110.5 billion), is the stepping stone for NCBA’s grand plan to expand its footprint across the continent with Ethiopia and the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC) in sight.

The latest results showed that the Group expanded its asset base to Sh716.0 billion in 2025 from Sh665.9 billion recorded in 2024.

Net interest income for the Group improved by Sh10 billion to Sh44.1 billion as non-interest income stood at Sh29.3 billion from Sh28.2 billion. This improved total operating income to Sh73.3 billion compared to Sh62.7 billion in 2024.

The Sh73.3 billion was largely supported by NCBA Kenya (Sh59.9 billion), followed by NCBA Uganda (Sh4 billion), non-banking subsidiaries (Sh3.4 billion), NCBA Tanzania (Sh2.7 billion) and NCBA Rwanda (Sh2.5 billion).

John Gachora, managing director and chief executive of NCBA Group, described the results as steady, highlighting the bank’s progress over the past six years since its formation through the merger of NIC Bank and Commercial Bank of Africa.

“If you look at the NCBA merger we did back in 2019, you will notice that the strength we talked about from the previous banks, we have continued to double down on them,” he said.

This is reflected in the Group’s wealth management business that now stands at Sh96 billion assets under management compared to Sh26 billion in 2020. Gross loans have also grown to Sh52 billion from Sh36 billion then, as the business cemented its asset financing market share at 30 per cent.

Gachora said the Nedbank Group deal will catapult the business to a new height, noting that the two entities have their priorities in sustainability, technology, innovation, and customer experience aligned.

Key to this is the fact that Nedbank comes with the financial muscle which NCBA needs to grow its market share.

“One of the key pillars (in our 2026-2030 strategy) is expanding into new markets. We shall require quite a bit of capital, so it made sense to have a very strong parent. I can tell you, we have made a lot of progress in terms of regulatory approval,” he said.

“Nedbank bought into our strategy. One is to double down on the countries we operate. We have talked strongly of our desire to be in markets such as DRC and Ethiopia when it opens up,” he added.

The Nedbank-NCBA deal was announced in January and, once finalised, will have NCBA as a subsidiary of the South African business. However, NCBA Group will retain its board and continue being listed on the Nairobi Securities Exchange (NSE). Nedbank is listed on the Johannesburg Stock Exchange (JSE).

“We are good at what we do. That is why Nedbank has decided to bet on NCBA,” said Gachora.