I&M Bank reports profit growth and regional expansion in 2025 results

I&M Bank’s 2025 financial results show strong profit growth, rising deposits and expanding regional operations across East Africa.

Speaking on Wednesday during their investor briefing in Nairobi, their regional CEO, Kihara Maina said the bank is targeting higher loan growth, increased regional profit contribution and continued investment in wealth management and bancassurance businesses.

The bank also invested over Sh400 million in social impact programmes supporting education, youth and women.

“In terms of education, we've always had a big focus on supporting education. We issued 140 scholarships last year, we touched about 38,000 women and youth last year, and collectively, we impacted over 300,000 lives through these different initiatives,” he said.

Maina said the bank invested over 400 million shillings in social impact initiatives in 2025, adding that the bank had also received several awards across Kenya, Mauritius, Uganda, Rwanda and Tanzania in recognition of its operations.

“Our summary highlights for the group, 60 billion shillings in total operating income, that's up 18%. Profit before tax was up 22% at 24.1 billion shillings, the profit after tax 19.8 billion shillings, that's up 22%,” he said.

The bank also recorded growth in customer deposits, which rose to 484 billion shillings, representing a 17% increase, while net loans and advances grew by 7%.

Return on equity rose to 18%, while return on assets stood at 3.2%. The bank also announced a 25% increase in dividend per share to 3.75 shillings.

“That's a good story for different shareholders,” Maina said.

Regional subsidiaries contributed 24% of profit before tax and accounted for 30% of total assets. Cross-border business also grew significantly.

“The business that we are doing across the borders has gone up 76% from the 2024 number,” he said.

Kenya remained the bank’s largest market, contributing 76% of profit before tax, followed by Rwanda at 13%, Tanzania at 5%, Mauritius at 3% and Uganda at 2%.

Maina said Kenya’s economy is expected to grow by just under 5% in 2026, driven by agriculture, transport, finance, construction and mining.

Within Kenya, the bank recorded strong growth in wealth management and bancassurance businesses.

“Our wealth management business has grown from strength in terms of assets under management, we were just shy of 100 billion shillings,” he said.

Revenue from the wealth management business rose significantly from 120 million shillings in 2024 to 565 million shillings in 2025.

The bank’s bancassurance business also performed strongly, with total revenues rising by 15% and profit before tax increasing by 20%.

Across the region, Tanzania recorded strong performance driven by trade finance and credit growth, while Rwanda recorded strong operating income growth in local currency despite foreign exchange restrictions affecting non-funded income.

Uganda recorded strong deposit growth as the bank expanded its customer base and invested in customer experience and systems.

Mauritius recorded slower growth due to global economic conditions affecting operating income, although deposits continued to grow.

Looking ahead, the bank expects loan book growth to improve in the medium term.

“We are targeting to see anywhere between 12 to 18% growth, deposits similarly expected to remain strong between 15 and 20% in the medium term,” Maina said.

The bank also expects regional subsidiaries to increase their contribution to profit before tax from 24% to 30% in the medium term, while return on equity is expected to remain between 18% and 21%.