Stanbic Holdings has increased its dividend per share for the fourth year in a row to Sh22.35, even though its net profit for the year ending December 2025 remained almost unchanged at Sh13.72 billion.
The lender maintained its earnings level from the previous year but still opted to raise returns to shareholders.
The bank proposed a final dividend of Sh18.55 per share, which will be added to the interim dividend of Sh3.80 already paid. This brings the total payout to Sh22.35 per share, a 7.7 percent increase from the Sh20.74 investors received the previous year when the lender reported a net profit of Sh13.71 billion.
“Subject to shareholders’ approval, the final dividend will be payable to the members of the company registered on the share register of the company on the closure date, May 15, 2026,” said the lender in a commentary accompanying the results.
The latest dividend distribution amounts to Sh8.83 billion, representing 64.4 percent of the bank’s net profit. This is the largest payout in the company’s history.
The dividend has also more than doubled within three years. In 2022, the lender paid Sh9 per share to investors.
Stanbic reported stable profit performance during a year when both its key income streams declined. Net interest income dropped to Sh24.08 billion from Sh24.34 billion in the previous year.
Non-interest income also fell to Sh14.43 billion from Sh15.4 billion.
At the same time, the bank recorded a rise in operating expenses, which grew to Sh17.95 billion from Sh17.67 billion. However, the lender reported a sharp drop in credit impairment charges, which nearly halved to Sh1.63 billion from Sh3.09 billion a year earlier.
Despite the flat earnings, the bank’s balance sheet expanded strongly during the period.
Total assets grew to Sh541.25 billion from Sh454.83 billion, supported by a strong rise in deposits from banks and customers. These deposits increased to Sh418.61 billion from Sh339.01 billion.
Stanbic is among the first major lenders to publish its 2025 full-year financial results.
Other large banks are expected to release their numbers before the end of the month. KCB Group is scheduled to announce its results after trading closes at the Nairobi Securities Exchange on Wednesday.
Data from the Central Bank of Kenya shows the country’s commercial banks recorded strong growth in profitability in 2025.
Pre-tax profit across the sector rose by 20 percent to reach Sh311.8 billion, up from Sh260 billion the previous year. This marked the first time the sector crossed the Sh300 billion mark.
The improved earnings are expected to lead to higher dividends for shareholders and better staff bonuses.
Banks such as Equity Bank Kenya and KCB Bank Kenya are expected to report strong results, which will also support the earnings of their parent groups that operate in markets including Uganda, Tanzania and the Democratic Republic of Congo.
