Equity Group has once again proven its leadership in the financial sector, clinching four prestigious awards at the 2024 Euromoney Awards in London. These accolades underscore the Group’s excellence in corporate responsibility and financial services across Africa:
- Best Bank for Corporate Responsibility in Africa (Second consecutive year)
- Best Bank for Corporate Responsibility in Kenya (Second consecutive year)
- Best Bank for SMEs in Kenya (Second consecutive year)
- Overall Best Bank in Kenya (Second consecutive year)
These awards highlight Equity Group’s profound impact through its Equity Group Foundation (EGF), which has made significant contributions to education, healthcare, environmental sustainability, social protection, and financial inclusion. Euromoney, known for its rigorous evaluation process, honors institutions that demonstrate exceptional corporate responsibility, ethical conduct, and transformative community initiatives. Equity’s recognition as the Best Bank for Corporate Responsibility in Africa emphasizes the substantial impact of its Social Impact Investment programs across the continent.
Through its shared prosperity business model, EGF has achieved remarkable milestones:
- Financial Education and MSME Support: EGF has provided financial education to 2.47 million women and youth, supported 570,006 MSMEs with financial training, and financed 305,771 MSMEs under the ‘Young Africa Works Program’.
- Agriculture and Food Security: EGF’s initiatives have positively impacted 3.8 million farmers and reached 320,626 small and medium-sized farmers.
- Education and Leadership: EGF’s ‘Wings to Fly’ and ‘Elimu Scholarships’ have granted scholarships to 60,009 secondary school students, while the Equity Leadership Program has enrolled over 23,825 university scholars, including 980 global university scholars, with 218 admitted to Ivy League institutions.
- Social Protection and Health: The foundation’s social protection programs have reached 5.6 million individuals. In healthcare, Equity Afya has expanded to 118 outpatient medical centers in Kenya and five in the DRC, serving over 110,000 clients monthly.
- Environmental Sustainability: EGF’s environmental initiatives have seen the planting of 29.5 million trees and the distribution of 439,869 clean energy products.
Equity’s performance goes beyond regional recognition, with the institution also being named the Best Bank in Kenya and Best Bank for SMEs in Kenya. These distinctions highlight Equity’s exceptional financial performance, strategic vision, risk management, digital banking strategy, and support for the SME sector.
Dr. James Mwangi, Equity Group Managing Director & CEO, expressed his pride in the awards, stating: “These prestigious awards validate our unwavering commitment to social impact investment. Our twin-engine business model encapsulates our belief in shared prosperity and the transformative power of investing in our communities. These achievements reflect the collective efforts of our dedicated team and the trust and support of our customers and partners. We are inspired to continue our journey towards creating a more inclusive and sustainable future for all.”
These accolades further solidify Equity’s position as a leader in delivering exceptional financial services and fostering economic prosperity across Africa. With a growing customer base, an extensive network of branches, ATMs, and agents, and cutting-edge digital banking solutions, Equity continues to steer the continent’s financial transformation.
