NCBA Group PLC has posted a profit after tax of KES 6.0 billion for the quarter ended 31 March 2026, a 9% increase from the KES 5.5 billion recorded in Q1 2025.
The headline numbers are solid, but it is the details beneath them that tell the more important story.
The Numbers That Matter
Operating income grew 15% year-on-year to KES 20.0 billion, driven by higher lending activity, improved asset quality, and sustained deposit growth.
Customer deposits rose 10% to KES 544 billion, while total assets climbed 13% to KES 741 billion, reflecting a balance sheet expanding confidently across both retail and corporate segments.
NCBA Bank Kenya remained the primary profitability engine, recording 20% year-on-year growth to reach KES 6.5 billion in profit before tax.
Regional subsidiaries across Uganda, Tanzania, and Rwanda contributed a combined KES 707 million in PBT steady operational performance that solidifies NCBA’s value as a pan-African banking group, not simply a Kenyan lender.
The Group maintained a robust capital adequacy ratio of 21.8%, significantly above the regulatory minimum of 14.5%, with return on average equity stable at 18.4%.
The Provision Spike: Caution, Not Crisis
The result that deserves the most scrutiny is the 56% year-on-year increase in provisions for credit losses to KES 2.5 billion.
On the surface, this looks alarming. In context, it reflects something more deliberate.
The bank adopted a more cautious approach amid what it described as a volatile business environment, one shaped by global macroeconomic uncertainty and, as Group MD John Gachora noted, careful monitoring of geopolitical developments and their potential implications for liquidity and inflation.
This is conservative balance sheet management, not deteriorating asset quality. A bank that provisions ahead of stress is in a stronger position than one that discovers it too late.
READ ALSO:How Nedbank Group Secured Approval to Acquire a Majority Stake in NCBA Group
Digital Lending: The Growth Engine
Digital loan disbursements reached KES 391 billion for the quarter, representing a 27% increase compared to Q1 2025.
This figure captures NCBA’s expanding footprint in Kenya’s mobile and digital lending market, a segment the bank helped pioneer through its M-Shwari partnership with Safaricom.
NCBA commands 32% of Kenya’s asset finance market, while its vehicle marketplace platform CarDuka has attracted close to seven million users.
These are not marginal positions, as they represent structural market leadership in two high-growth segments.
The recently launched NCBA BOOSTA product, offering SMEs digital access to loans of up to KES 35 million, signals a deliberate push into business lending through digital channels, a segment where the growth opportunity remains significant.
The Nedbank Transaction
One of the most consequential developments in Kenya’s banking sector sits in the background of these results: Group Managing Director John Gachora noted that the proposed transaction with Nedbank Group Limited is progressing as planned, with key milestones on track.
If completed, this transaction would significantly reshape NCBA’s capital structure and strategic positioning within the broader African banking landscape.
What It Means for Kenya’s Banking Sector
NCBA’s Q1 2026 performance arrives in the context of a sector-wide earnings season showing resilience despite pressure from rising loan defaults and cautious borrowing.
KCB Group posted a pre-tax profit of KES 24.4 billion for Q1 2026, marking a 15.3% increase, and Stanbic Bank Kenya also reported strong first-quarter growth.
The pattern is consistent: Kenya’s tier-one banks are growing, provisioning prudently, and investing in digital infrastructure simultaneously.
For the sector as a whole, NCBA’s results reinforce a broader truth: disciplined execution, digital leadership, and diversified revenue streams are the formula for sustainable growth in East African banking regardless of what the macro environment throws at it.
NCBA Group Overview
NCBA Group Kenya / NCBA Bank: NCBA Group is one of East Africa’s largest financial institutions, formed through the merger of NIC Bank and Commercial Bank of Africa (CBA). Its banking subsidiary is NCBA Bank Kenya.
NCBA Internet banking: NCBA offers internet and mobile banking platforms for personal and business customers, supporting transfers, payments, loan management and account monitoring.
NCBA insurance contact number: Insurance support is available through NCBA Bancassurance and customer care channels published on NCBA’s official website and branch network.
NCBA travel insurance: NCBA provides travel insurance products covering medical emergencies, trip cancellation, baggage loss and travel-related risks for local and international travellers.
NCBA Insurance Company Limited address: NCBA’s headquarters are located at NCBA Centre, Mara/Ragati Road, Upper Hill, Nairobi, Kenya.
NCBA medical insurance: NCBA distributes health and medical insurance solutions through partnerships with insurers, offering individual, family and corporate medical cover options.
NCBA car insurance: NCBA offers motor insurance products, including comprehensive, third-party and fleet insurance solutions for personal and commercial vehicles.
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