CBN Restricts Banking Services for Large Borrowers With Non-Performing Loans
The Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) has directed commercial banks to restrict access to a range of banking services for large borrowers whose loans have turned non-performing, tightening oversight as the industry’s bad-loan ratio rises above regulatory limits. In a circular dated March 12, 2026, and signed by Director of Banking Supervision Olubukola Akinwunmi, the […]
Top 5 Mobile Banking Apps in Ethiopia
Ethiopia’s digital finance landscape has expanded at a remarkable pace, with mobile banking accounts increasing from 9.1 million in 2020 to about 54 million by early 2025. The growth is as a result of rising smartphone penetration, wider agent networks, improved digital infrastructure and stronger integration between financial institutions and telecom operators. What began as […]
Nigeria Moves to Full Automation of Anti-Money Laundering Systems
Following its March 10 circular, the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) is advancing the full automation of anti-money laundering systems across financial institutions. The mandate, formally titled the “Baseline Standards for Automated Anti-Money Laundering Solutions,” also covers combating the financing of terrorism (CFT) and countering proliferation financing (CPF). The directive replaces manual compliance with technology-driven […]
Kenya–Rwanda Licence Passport Could Unlock Cross-Border Fintech Expansion
A new regulatory framework being developed by the Central Bank of Kenya and the National Bank of Rwanda could reshape how payment companies expand across East Africa by removing one of the sector’s most persistent barriers: duplicate licensing. The two regulators recently signed a Memorandum of Understanding to create a licence passporting framework for Payment […]
4 Trends to Watch in Kenyan Banks FY 2025 Results
Kenyan banks are preparing to release their FY 2025 results following a record year for the sector, with investors focusing on profitability, dividends, loan quality, and the effect of new regulatory pricing models. Industry data shows aggregate pre-tax profit for banks in Kenya rose 20% to KSh 311.8 billion, the first time the sector has […]
When Banks Became Campus Partners and How Their Relationship is Shaping the Future
When KCB Bank signed a landmark agreement with 29 universities across Kenya in 2025, it marked a turning point in the evolving relationship between African banks and educational institutions. The partnership went beyond traditional student loans, embedding banking services into the operational fabric of universities and providing infrastructure support, digital payment solutions, and financial literacy […]
Banks Expand Smart ID Services in South Africa to Improve Access and Security
Banks are expanding Smart ID services in South Africa as part of a new digital partnership with the Department of Home Affairs (DHA), aimed at modernising identity services and addressing long-standing application backlogs at government offices. Institutions including Standard Bank Group, First National Bank (FNB), and Capitec Bank have begun scaling access to Smart ID […]
How to Pick Bank Stocks on the NSE
Picking bank stocks on the Nairobi Securities Exchange requires a mix of fundamental analysis and long-term investing, with attention to profitability, asset quality and management strategy. The approach has gained renewed focus since the launch of the NSE Banking Sector Index in late 2025, which provides investors with a benchmark tracking the performance of listed […]
How NMB Bank Transformed Into Tanzania’s Most Profitable Lender
When NMB Bank Plc was established in 1997 by an Act of Parliament following the restructuring of the state-owned National Bank of Commerce, few expected the small microfinance institution created from the breakup to evolve into Tanzania’s most profitable lender. The restructuring divided the former NBC into three separate entities, including NMB, which was initially […]
Kenyans Will Soon Experience Economic Effects of the Ongoing Iran‑Israel/US Conflict if War Continues
Kenyans may soon begin to feel the economic reverberations of the escalating conflict between the United States, Israel, and Iran, which has entered its eighth day. The Strait of Hormuz, the world’s most critical energy chokepoint, is effectively closed as of early March 2026. Normally, this narrow waterway facilitates the transit of roughly 20–21 million […]