The Co-operative Bank Group is delighted to announce a Profit Before Tax amounting to Kshs. 24.7 Billion for the third quarter of 2023, marking an impressive growth of 8.6% compared to the Kshs. 22.7 Billion achieved in the same period in 2022.
This translates to a Profit after Tax of Kshs. 18.4 Billion, surpassing the Kshs. 17.1 Billion reported in 2022.
This robust performance reflects the Bank’s commitment to strategic objectives centered around sustainable growth, resilience, and agility.
Sustainable Finance Award
Co-op Bank clinched the title of Overall Winner at the Kenya Bankers Association (KBA) 2023 Sustainable Finance Catalyst Awards.
This marks Co-op Bank’s fourth time as the overall winner in six years, as it previously secured the title in 2017, 2019, and 2022.
The Awards aim to acknowledge institutions actively practicing sustainable finance, thereby directly benefiting the financial sector, the economy, the environment, and society as a whole.
Sustainable Finance Principles require financial institutions to balance their quest for financial returns with the economy’s future priorities and social-environmental concerns.
In addition to scooping the overall title, Co-op Bank also won in specific award categories including being named the Most Innovative Bank, Best in Financing Commercial Clients, Best in Promoting Gender Inclusivity, and Best in Promoting Accessibility for People with Disabilities (PWD).
Key Q32023 Performance highlights:
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Financial Position: The Group has registered sustained growth as follows
- Total Assets grew to Kshs. 661.3 Billion, a 6.3% growth from Kshs 622.1 Billion in the same period last year.
- Net loans and advances grew to Kshs. 378.1 Billion, a 12.8% growth from Kshs.335.2 Billion in 2022.
- Customer deposits grew to Kshs 432.8 Billion, a 0.2% increase from Kshs. 432.0 Billion.
- External funds from development partners have increased by 56.5% to Kshs.65.6 Billion from Kshs. 41.9 Billion in 2022.
- Shareholders’ funds have grown to Kshs. 108.1 Billion, a 7.1% increase from Kshs. 100.9 Billion in 2022.
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Comprehensive Income
- Total operating income grew by 2.3% from Kshs. 52.2 Billion to Kshs. 53.4 Billion.
- Net interest income grew by 2.5% from Kshs 32.0 Billion to Kshs 32.8 Billion.
- Total non-interest income grew by 2.1% from Kshs. 20.2 Billion to Kshs. 20.6 Billion.
- Total operating expenses decreased by 2.1% from Kshs. 29.6 Billion to Kshs. 29.0 Billion.
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Cost Management
The Group reports excellent efficiency gains from the various initiatives to record a Cost-to-Income Ratio of 46.4% in Q32023 from 59% in FY2014 when we began our Growth and efficiency journey.
- Credit Management remains a key focus area, with the Group prudentially making provisions of Kshs. 4.2 Billion which has supported the Bank’s Loan Loss Reserve/Coverage level of 69.1%.
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A Strong Digital Footprint
- New Core Banking System Goes Live
The Bank successfully upgraded the core banking system to the latest version of Finacle from Infosys, which was rated globally as the top core banking system in 2022 by Gartner. This upgrade is part of our ongoing digitization journey to enhance the service experience and provide the most innovative banking solutions.
- Through our digital channel strategy, the Bank has successfully moved 91% of all customer transactions to alternative delivery channels, a 24-hour contact centre, 608 ATMs and cash Deposit Machines (CDMs), mobile & internet banking and over 18,000 network of Co-op kwa Jirani agents.
- We have successfully migrated our customers to the Omni-channel, integrating accessibility and user experience. Our omnichannel interfaces online banking through personal computers, mobile phones and USSD availing our services to all customers through their preferred channel yet retaining the same experience from wherever they are.
- Mco-op Cash Mobile wallet continues to drive substantial non-funded income streams with 5 Million customers registered and Kshs 59.4 Billion in loans disbursed year to date, averaging Kshs. 6.6 Billion per month.
- Over 193,000 customers have taken up the MSME packages we rolled out in 2018, and 42,413 have been trained in business management skills. Year to date, we have disbursed Kshs. 15.9 Billion to MSMEs through our Mobile E-Credit solution. MSMEs make up 15.5% of our total Loan Book.
- Our unique model of retail banking services avails access to cash for FOSA operations, enabling 484 FOSA outlets to support over 15 million Sacco members’ access to banking services even in rural/remote areas.
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Expanding Branch Network
The Bank has grown the branch network to 193 (4 in South Sudan). Eight (8) new Branches (Nakuru Bahati Road, Kimana, Matuu, Thika Kwame Nkrumah, Greenwood Mall – Meru, Kenol Makuyu, Hindi – Lamu and Bamburi – Mombasa) opened in 2023, whereas 5 Branches (Kabarnet, Iten, Kasarani, Kamakis and Chwele) opened last year.
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Subsidiaries
- Co-op Consultancy & Bancassurance Intermediary Ltd posted a Profit Before Tax of Kshs 762.9 Million in Q3 2023, riding on strong penetration of the Bancassurance business.
- Co-operative Bank of South Sudan that is a unique joint venture (JV) partnership with the Government of South Sudan (Co-op Bank 51% and GOSS 49%) made a Profit before tax of Kshs 246.9 Million in Q32023. This performance translated to a Profit Before Tax of Kshs 43.5 Million after the hyperinflation accounting occasioned by the currency devaluation of the South Sudanese pound.
- Co-op Trust Investment Services Ltd contributed Kshs. 154.5 Million Profit Before Tax in Q32023, a 9.6% growth. The Subsidiary has Funds Under Management of Kshs. 196 Billion (Q32023).
- Kingdom Bank Limited (A niche MSME Bank) has contributed a Profit before Tax of Kshs. 786.6 Million in Q32023, a remarkable growth of 24.8% from Kshs. 630.2 million reported last year.
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Environmental Social & Governance (ESG) Practice
The Bank continues to implement a best-in-class ESG policy framework supported by an ESG implementation roadmap, groupwide ESG champions and ESG Governance.
It has invested in a unique forest rehabilitation project at “Solio Hill, Laikipia”; this is a partnership with the local community under the Community Forest Association and Kenya Forest Service (KFS) that has so far planted over 250,000 purely indigenous trees at the 600-acre government forest.
Th Lender has supported the KFS team with resources to nurture and water the trees all year round to ensure the tree survival rate is above 90%. In addition, the Bank just completed the construction of an office and living quarters for forest rangers to ensure the full-time protection of the forest for the benefit of the community and the environment.
Co-op Bank Foundation, the Group’s social investment vehicle, continues to provide Scholarships to gifted but needy students from all regions of Kenya. The sponsorship includes full fees for secondary and university education, internships, and career openings for beneficiaries. The foundation is fully funded by the bank and has supported 10,264 students since the inception of the program.
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Accolades
2023 Sustainable Finance Catalyst Award
Co-op Bank has emerged as the Overall Winner at this year’s Kenya Bankers Association (KBA) Sustainable Finance Catalyst Awards. This is the fourth time in six years that Co-op Bank has been named overall winner, having also won the overall title in 2017, 2019 and last year 2022.
Commenting on the Award, the Group Managing Director & CEO, Dr. Gideon Muriuki said;
“Our business model fully integrates sustainability, resting on three pillars: Economic Sustainability, Social Sustainability, and Environmental Stewardship.”
“As a predominantly Co-operative Movement-owned bank with 15 million members represented in all regions of the country, our design emphasizes inclusivity. This approach has not only allowed us to deliver shared prosperity today but has also cultivated awareness and prudence, preventing participation in activities that could jeopardize future generations.”
2023 IFC Global SME Awards
Co-op Bank was awarded the SME Financier of the Year in Africa – Gold Award at the Global SME Finance Awards 2023. The Awards recognize financial institutions and fintech companies for their outstanding achievements in delivering exceptional products and services to their SME clients.
TAB Global – The Middle East and Africa Awards 2023
Co-op Bank and Intellect Global Consumer Banking were awarded Best Omnichannel Technology Implementation by TAB Global (The Middle East and Africa Awards 2023).
The Awards recognize leadership in retail financial services, technology, risk and transaction finance in the Middle East and Africa.
