Equity Group Holdings is set to separate its fast-growing digital business into a new independent company, in a move aimed at sharpening its focus on technology and improving efficiency across its operations.
The planned firm, expected to be rolled out in the second half of 2026, will bring together all fintech products currently run under the group’s Finserve arm, including the mobile banking and payments platform Equitel.
The restructuring is designed to streamline operations, cut costs and allow the lender to extract greater value from its digital ecosystem as competition intensifies in financial technology across Africa.
The new unit will be led by Sarah Kabira, who currently heads the group’s technology division.
She will work alongside a team of experienced technology executives, among them Eve Ngigi, John Kamara and Johnny Falla. The team brings experience from global firms such as Visa, Google, Andela and Lori. Kabira previously worked at Safaricom.
Group chief executive James Mwangi said the move is part of a wider long-term plan to reposition the lender for a digital future. Speaking in Nairobi during the release of the bank’s 2025 results, he said the strategy centres on using advanced digital tools and artificial intelligence to expand reach and improve service delivery.
He said the group is building systems that are scalable, secure and designed to support inclusive growth, while lowering the cost of serving customers and widening access to financial products such as loans, insurance and investments.
Under its 2030 roadmap, Equity aims to expand its footprint to 15 countries and grow its customer base to 100 million, as it shifts from a traditional banking model to a broader financial services platform that connects businesses, capital and markets across Africa.
The new fintech company is also expected to introduce upgraded digital infrastructure and innovative applications, supported by a more flexible go-to-market strategy to better serve different categories of customers.
Equity, which is headquartered in Nairobi, operates as a holding company with subsidiaries spread across the region. Its businesses outside Kenya now account for nearly half of its total assets and more than half of its profit before tax.
Financial results for 2025 show strong growth, with net profit rising to KSh75.5 billion, equivalent to about $580 million, from KSh48.8 billion the previous year. Total assets increased by 9 percent to KSh1.97 trillion, while customer deposits grew to KSh1.46 trillion.
The group has banking operations in Kenya, Uganda, Tanzania, Rwanda, South Sudan and the Democratic Republic of Congo, as well as a representative office in Ethiopia.
It has recently been recognised as the best regional bank in East Africa and remains Kenya’s most valuable brand, underscoring its influence in the region’s financial sector.
In addition to lending, the lender is strengthening support for small and medium-sized enterprises by promoting cross-border trade through its regional network and digital transaction platforms, helping businesses access new markets and expand their operations.
