Co-operative Bank of Kenya has reported a strong set of financial results for the year ended December 2025, with pre-tax profit rising to Ksh 40.3 billion, representing a 15.8% increase from Ksh 34.8 billion recorded in the previous year, as the lender continued to draw momentum from sustained growth in lending, rising customer deposits and the rapid shift toward digital banking channels.
Net profit for the year grew by 16.9% to Ksh 29.75 billion from Ksh 25.46 billion in 2024, reflecting solid earnings performance supported by higher interest income and increased transaction volumes across its retail and business segments, which have remained active amid evolving economic conditions.
Shareholders are set to benefit from the improved performance, with the board proposing a final dividend of Ksh 1.50 per share, bringing the total dividend payout for the year to Ksh 2.50 per share after an interim distribution of Ksh 1.00, representing a 67% increase from the previous year’s payout, with the total dividend amounting to Ksh 14.67 billion compared to Ksh 8.8 billion in 2024, and a large portion of this expected to flow to members of the co-operative movement who remain central to the bank’s ownership structure.
The bank’s financial position continued to strengthen during the period under review, with total assets rising by 11.32% to Ksh 827.4 billion from Ksh 743.3 billion, while customer deposits grew by 13.28% to Ksh 576.5 billion, signalling sustained customer confidence and increased savings mobilisation, as loans and advances expanded by 12.65% to Ksh 421 billion, reflecting continued demand for credit from both households and enterprises across various sectors.
Income growth was largely driven by lending activity, with net interest income rising by 21.99% to Ksh 62.85 billion, which in turn supported a 13.93% increase in total operating income to Ksh 91.89 billion, while operating expenses grew at a relatively moderate rate of 11.35%, allowing the bank to maintain a cost-to-income ratio of 46.3%, an outcome that points to improved operational efficiency over time.
Beyond the financial metrics, the bank’s transformation is increasingly evident in the way customers access its services, with more than 90% of transactions now conducted through alternative delivery channels such as mobile banking, internet platforms and USSD, reflecting a steady shift toward convenience, accessibility and efficiency in service delivery across its customer base.
At the same time, the lender has retained a wide physical presence across the country through its network of 222 branches and over 16,000 agents, ensuring that customers in both urban centres and remote areas continue to access banking services with ease, while complementing its digital platforms with physical touchpoints.
Digital lending remains a central pillar of the bank’s growth strategy, with Ksh 72.96 billion disbursed through its E-Credit platform during 2025 alone, part of which was directed toward micro, small and medium enterprises that rely on timely access to working capital, while cumulative disbursements since the platform’s inception have surpassed Ksh 500 billion, illustrating its scale and reach.
The bank has also deepened its engagement with the small business segment by onboarding more than 259,000 enterprises onto tailored financial programmes, while providing training to over 71,000 entrepreneurs in an effort aimed at strengthening business capacity and long-term sustainability within the sector.
Performance across subsidiaries contributed positively to the group’s overall results, with growth recorded in investment services, bancassurance, securities trading and regional banking operations, reflecting the strength of its diversified model and its ability to generate income from multiple business lines.
At the core of this performance is a strategy centred on digital expansion, customer-focused service delivery and support for enterprise growth, supported by continued investment in technology such as core banking system upgrades and enhancements to its mobile application, which now integrates banking, investment and insurance services into a single platform for customer convenience.
Co-operative Bank, which is listed on the Nairobi Securities Exchange, now serves over 9.4 million account holders and remains closely linked to Kenya’s 15 million-member co-operative movement, a relationship that continues to shape its growth trajectory and reinforce its position within the country’s financial sector.
