Stanbic Bank 2020 Q1 profits drop by 34% to Ksh 1.5 billion

Stanbic Bank Kenya has announced a profit of KSh 1.5 billion for the first quarter of 2020, a significant drop around 34% from Ksh 2.3 billion that the lender posted in the same period last year.  

Total non-interest income decreased to KSh 2.3 billion as a result of the declining global economic activity that has stifled growth.

Mr. Charles Mudiwa, Stanbic Bank Kenya’s Chief Executive attributed the decline to the difficult position that most sectors of the economy are facing caused by the novel Coronavirus pandemic.

Total customer deposits  grew to KSh 203 billion from KSh 191 billion in quarter one of 2019  while the bank’s loan book also saw an increase of 12% percent to KSh 161 billion from 144.7 billion in the first quarter of 2019. 

Stanbic Bank Kenya was the first bank to announce customer interventions geared at providing relief from the adverse Covid 19 impact. The bank provided loan moratoriums to both individuals and Small and Medium-Sized Enterprises (SMEs) that saw it restructure around KSh 10.9 billion to individuals who had a one-month repayment holiday.

The bank has also restructured KSh 2.3 billion of SME loans and saw SMEs get a three-month loan holiday. This has been particularly impactful as SMEs have been hardest hit by the COVID-19 crisis putting a strain on their ability to meet basic functions such as salaries and utility bills.

Quarter one also saw Stanbic underline its commitment to develop and empower women-owned businesses through its DADA platform. The bank has given KSh 727 million to women-owned businesses. Maurice Matumo, Head of Personal and Business Banking noted that “Our commitment to women-owned businesses is set to increase as we are relaunching DADA to the market with a KSh 20 billion fund to accelerate the growth of businesses owned by women.”

In a statement to media houses, Mr. Charles Mudiwa noted that “Investments under its COVID-19 combating strategy through the Stanbic Bank Foundation has now surpassed one hundred and thirty-seven million Kenya shillings (Ksh. 137m) making it one of the boldest strategic investments in Kenya’s private sector.”