The 26th Connected Banking Summit – Innovation & Excellence Awards (East Africa Edition) convened industry leaders at the Radisson Blu Hotel, Nairobi Upper Hill, spotlighting banks, fintech firms, and executives driving digital transformation across the region.
Organized by the International Center for Strategic Alliances (ICSA), the summit serves as a regional leadership platform for the Banking, Financial Services, and Insurance (BFSI) sector, bringing together senior executives, regulators, fintech founders, and technology providers to advance ecosystem modernization and financial inclusion.
Focus on Digital Banking Evolution
Under the theme “Driving Digital Banking Evolution and Financial-Technology Integration Across East Africa,” the 26th Connected Banking Summit 2026 East Africa Edition focused on moving institutions beyond basic digital adoption toward full ecosystem integration. Discussions centered on how banks and fintech firms can connect infrastructure, data, and payment networks to support interoperable services across the region.
A key priority was intelligent banking, with delegates examining the deployment of artificial intelligence and automation to improve decision-making, personalize customer engagement, and streamline operations. The emphasis was on practical use cases that can deliver measurable efficiency gains while strengthening risk management and service delivery.
The agenda also highlighted infrastructure and security, including cloud migration strategies, cybersecurity resilience, and digital identity frameworks. Participants discussed modernization pathways that allow financial institutions to scale digital services while maintaining operational stability and data protection standards.
Financial inclusion featured prominently, with attention on expanding access for MSMEs and underserved communities. Mobile-money interoperability was identified as a critical enabler for widening participation in formal financial systems and improving transaction connectivity across platforms.
The summit further addressed open finance, focusing on the harmonization of open application programming interfaces (APIs) and the development of cross-border instant payment ecosystems. Organizers said the conversations were aimed at advancing regulatory alignment and encouraging collaboration between banks, fintech companies, and policymakers to support scalable implementation across East Africa.
East Africa Edition Winners 2026
While a consolidated master list of all categories has yet to be published, several institutions announced major wins from the East Africa edition.
Excellence in Investment Banking
Standard Chartered Bank Kenya was recognized for delivering structured financial solutions and advisory services to corporate clients.
Excellence in Transaction Banking
Access Bank (Kenya) PLC received the award for performance in payment and collection solutions, including cross-border transactions and foreign exchange services.
Excellence in Commercial Banking Award 2026
UBA Kenya was recognized for project financing initiatives, market leadership, and support for economic development through innovative financial solutions.
Outstanding Leadership in Banking Award
Awarded to Ms. Mary Mulili (HSC), Managing Director and CEO of UBA Kenya, in recognition of her strategic leadership and contribution to sector growth.
Fintech Leadership Recognition
eTranzact was praised for its role in advancing digital payments and financial services innovation.
Woman of the Year (Banking & Finance Sector)
Gwendoline Abunaw, Managing Director of Ecobank Cameroon, was recognized for leadership and sector contributions.
CEO of the Year (Saccos & Microfinance)
Ken Kodhiambo was honored for leadership within the microfinance sector.
The summit also highlighted achievements from concurrent editions:
- Excellence in Corporate Banking — Absa Bank Ghana
- Excellence in Financial Inclusion — Access Bank (Ghana) Plc
- Excellence in Private Banking — Stanbic Bank Ghana
Standard Award Categories
The summit traditionally presents more than 30 categories across three major segments:
Organizational Awards
- Bank of the Year
- Digital Bank of the Year
- Retail Bank of the Year
- Sustainable Bank of the Year
Solutions Awards
- Excellence in Digital Lending
- Omni-Channel Banking
- Cybersecurity
- AI-Driven Banking Insights
Leadership Awards
- CIO of the Year
- CTO of the Year
- CDO of the Year
- CISO of the Year
Dialogue Across the BFSI Ecosystem
Beyond recognition, the summit functioned as a structured networking platform, facilitating one-on-one (O3O) meetings between executives and technology providers. Sessions focused on:
- Cloud adoption strategies
- Legacy system modernization
- Cross-border payments integration
- Regulatory alignment with authorities such as the Central Bank of Kenya
- Scaling AI-driven banking infrastructure
Speakers included representatives from major regional institutions and technology platforms, reinforcing the event’s role as a convergence point for banking and fintech innovation.
Jefferson Wachira is a writer at Africa Digest News, specializing in banking and finance trends, and their impact on African economies.