Equity Bank has been named the Overall Best Bank in Kenya at the 2026 Think Business Banking Awards 2026, cementing its position as a leading player in the country’s financial sector.
The announcement was made during an awards ceremony held in Nairobi on Friday, bringing together key players in the banking industry under the theme “Building a strong, well-capitalised and fairly priced banks.”
Equity Bank stood out with a dominant performance across multiple categories, topping 10 and finishing second in two others, reflecting its strength across retail, corporate and SME banking segments.
The bank’s Group Managing Director and CEO, James Mwangi, was also named CEO of the Year, in recognition of his leadership in steering the institution’s growth and expanding its footprint.
Speaking after receiving the award, Mwangi said the recognition reflects the bank’s long-term strategy focused on inclusivity, innovation and customer-focused services.
“This recognition as the Overall Best Bank in Kenya reflects years of deliberate investment in building a resilient, inclusive and future-ready financial institution,” he said.
He added that the lender will continue to focus on improving capital efficiency, expanding access to credit and leveraging technology to serve customers better.
In category wins, Equity Bank was named Best Bank in Retail Banking and Product Innovation, and also received a Special Judges Award for Product Innovation.
The bank further ranked first in Agriculture and Livestock Financing as well as Asset Financing, highlighting its support for key sectors such as farming and enterprise development. It also emerged as the Best Commercial Bank in Microfinance, underscoring its role in advancing financial inclusion among micro, small and medium enterprises.
On sustainability, the lender was recognised as the Best Bank in Sustainable Corporate Social Responsibility, driven by programmes implemented through Equity Group Foundation.
Equity Bank placed second in both Trade Financing and Tier One Bank categories.
Chief Judge Priscillah Mogaka said the awards were based on a rigorous and transparent evaluation process.
“We assessed 160 entries against a rigorous 100-point framework, looking at both quantitative data such as financial ratios and qualitative factors including governance and innovation,” she said.
Mogaka noted that the results reflect a banking sector that is becoming more resilient, digitally advanced and responsive to customer needs.
The Think Business Banking Awards evaluate lenders based on financial performance, innovation, risk management and customer focus, at a time when banks are under pressure to balance growth with stability and affordability.
