KCB Group Declares Record KSh 13 Billion Dividend on Back of Strong Half-Year Results

KCB Group Declares Record KSh 13 Billion Dividend on Back of Strong Half-Year Results

KCB Group PLC has delivered a historic win for its shareholders, announcing a combined interim and special dividend payout of KSh 13 billion — the largest mid-year distribution in the bank’s 127-year history. The move comes after the lender posted an 8% rise in net profit to KSh 32.3 billion for the first half of 2025, fueled by growth in earning assets and robust performance across its regional subsidiaries.

The board has recommended an interim dividend of KSh 2.00 per share for the 2025 period, alongside a special dividend of KSh 2.00 per share tied to the sale of National Bank of Kenya (NBK) to Access Bank. This marks the first time in KCB’s history that shareholders will receive a special dividend.

Group Chairman Dr. Joseph Kinyua attributed the landmark payout to strong financial performance and a positive business outlook. “The strong half-year performance and the projected trajectory of the business has allowed us a great bandwidth to propose a historic special and interim dividend to shareholders,” he said.

KCB’s total assets closed at KSh 1.97 trillion, maintaining stability despite the NBK divestment in Q2 2025. Subsidiaries outside KCB Bank Kenya accounted for 33.4% of pre-tax profit and 31.4% of the balance sheet, underscoring the benefits of regional diversification.

The loan portfolio grew to KSh 1.18 trillion, while customer deposits stood at KSh 1.48 trillion, reflecting strong customer confidence. Total revenue rose 4.3% to KSh 98.6 billion, supported by a jump in net interest income to KSh 69.1 billion.

The Group’s cost-to-income ratio remained stable at 46.0%, while return on equity (ROE) stood at 22.2% and return on assets (ROA) at 3.3%.

KCB continued to accelerate its digital transformation, with 99% of transactions conducted through non-branch channels. On August 11, 2025, the bank launched a new unified mobile app featuring self-onboarding, AI-driven services, and a mini-app ecosystem to boost accessibility and convenience.

Key corporate developments included:

Sale of 100% NBK shares to Access Bank on May 30, 2025.

Opening of six new branches in Kenya, Tanzania, and Rwanda.

Issuance of KSh 26.9 billion in green loans and screening of KSh 133.2 billion under environmental and social due diligence.

KCB received several global accolades, including being named Africa’s Best Bank for Corporate Responsibility and Kenya’s Best Bank for ESG by Euromoney, as well as African Bank of the Year by the African Business Leadership Awards. Group CEO Paul Russo was honored with a Special U.S. Congressional Commendation for his contributions to East Africa’s banking sector.

For investors, the KSh 13 billion payout — combining interim and special dividends — offers a significant mid-year return, signaling both financial strength and the board’s confidence in sustained growth. With the sale of NBK freeing up capital and ongoing expansion across the region, shareholders are poised to benefit from KCB’s strategic positioning in an increasingly competitive banking environment.