SBM Bank Kenya clears central bank debt and receives Sh814m capital boost

SBM Bank Kenya eliminated its outstanding loan to the Central Bank of Kenya, reducing the debt from KES 17.57 bn to zero by 30 June 2026. In the first half of 2026 the bank posted a 171% jump in profit before tax to KES 547 bn and an after‑tax profit of KES 380 bn, driven by higher interest income and lower deposit‑costs. The loan book grew 18.3% to KES 54.09 bn while customer deposits rose 14.1% to Sh94 bn.

During the same period SBM Holdings of Mauritius injected Sh814 m of new capital into its Kenyan subsidiary, raising paid‑up capital to Sh4.75 bn and improving the capital adequacy headroom to 1.4%. The capital boost supports business growth and strengthens the bank’s regulatory capital buffers.