KCB Bank Groupf has recorded a Sh3.1 billion gain following the sale of the National Bank of Kenya (NBK) to Access Bank Plc, marking the end of its five-year effort to stabilise and restructure the lender.
The gain reflects the difference between the amount Access Bank paid for NBK and the total costs KCB incurred while acquiring and supporting the bank during its ownership.
KCB had acquired NBK in early 2020 through a share swap valued at more than Sh5 billion. After the acquisition, the group injected over Sh8 billion into the lender to strengthen its capital position and ensure it met regulatory requirements.
The transaction was completed in May last year, with the deal valuing NBK at about Sh13.2 billion, based on 1.25 times its book value as at December 2023.
The sale also helped boost returns to shareholders. Proceeds from the disposal supported a special dividend of Sh4 per share paid in mid-2025, while the full-year dividend rose to Sh7 per share, up from Sh3 in 2024.
Beyond the financial gain, the disposal has helped KCB strengthen its balance sheet by removing a major source of non-performing loans from its books.
Following the sale, the group reported its lowest non-performing loan ratio since December 2021, with gross bad loans falling 6.15 percent to Sh211.8 billion by the end of 2025.
The move forms part of a broader strategy by the lender to sharpen its focus on its core banking operations, particularly KCB Kenya, while maintaining room to expand across the region. KCB currently operates in six regional markets, and the group has signalled that Ethiopia remains a key strategic opportunity as it evaluates where to deploy capital next.
Analysts say the disposal allows the bank to streamline operations while freeing up capital to support growth in more profitable markets across East Africa.
