ABIDJAN, Côte d’Ivoire, July 15 – Equity Bank has been awarded the title of Best Regional Bank in East Africa at the 2025 African Banker Awards, held in Abidjan, Côte d’Ivoire.
The recognition highlights the bank’s regional footprint and its role in advancing financial inclusion and socio-economic transformation across East Africa.
The award comes as Equity continues to expand its operations in the region, with a focus on digital innovation, small and medium-sized enterprise (SME) financing, and support for key development sectors.
“This award is a testament to our commitment to delivering transformative financial services that empower individuals, businesses, and communities across East and Central Africa,” said Dr. James Mwangi, Equity Group Managing Director and CEO.
He added that the recognition supports the bank’s Africa Recovery and Resilience Plan, which focuses on sectors such as agriculture, manufacturing, health, education, and clean energy.
The African Banker Awards, now in their 19th year, celebrate excellence in the continent’s banking and finance sectors. The event is supported by the African Development Bank and other partners including the African Guarantee Fund.
Omar Ben Yedder, Chair of the Awards Committee, said the role of African financial institutions in driving development is increasingly important.
“The ones who finance you, empower you,” he noted, referencing the strategic position banks hold in enabling economic growth.
Equity Group currently operates in six countries – Kenya, Uganda, Rwanda, Tanzania, South Sudan, and the Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC) – and maintains a representative office in Ethiopia.
