EQUITY  FETED  AT THE 2023 EUROMONEY AWARDS

Equity Bank has been celebrated  at the Euromoney Awards for Excellence 2023. The lender clinched the  best bank for corporate responsibility in Africa(for the second year in a row), best bank in Kenya, best bank in DRC, best bank for small and medium enterprises  (SME)banking, best bank for digital solutions  and best bank for corporate social responsibility  ( CSR) in Kenya.

The Euromoney Awards serve as a beacon of excellence in the banking industry, applauding institutions that demonstrate exceptional corporate responsibility practices, ethical conduct  and transformative initiatives in the communities they serve. They  cover various categories  including :  regional and country-specific recognitions, as well as specific areas of banking such as digital solutions, corporate responsibility and risk management. Financial institutions from around the world compete for these accolades, which serve as a benchmark for success and a testament to their commitment to delivering exceptional services and driving positive change in the financial sector.

Transformed lives

Equity Group Foundation’s  social impact investment programmes have significantly improved lives across Africa, with 55,583 scholarships awarded so far.  18,735 scholars have joined university under the Equity leaders programme  with 8,337 benefiting from Equity Bank paid internships while 3,454 have joined technical and vocational education and training  colleges. 834 of the Equity Leaders Programme  scholars have been privileged to secure admission on fully funded scholarships at leading global universities including Ivy League universities like Harvard, Yale, Princeton, MIT, Columbia, and Cornell. In addition, through the programmes, 2,417,019 women and youth have been trained in financial education, 448,169 micro, small and medium enterprises  (MSMEs)  trained in entrepreneurship, 5.31 million individuals have been reached with social protection programmes, 3.87 million farmers have been impacted, 22.8 million trees have been planted and  398,060 clean energy products distributed. Finally,  its healthcare programme,  Equity Afia, expanded to 87 clinics.

By and  large, Equity’s dedication to diversity, inclusion, environmental sustainability, ethical business practices, financial performance, strategic vision, risk management  and digital banking strategy contributed to its success at the awards. The remarkable performance  demonstrates  the bank’s   commitment to excellence in banking and corporate responsibility.   “These prestigious accolades reaffirm our unwavering commitment to transforming lives, giving dignity, and expanding opportunities for wealth creation among our customers and communities across Africa,” said Dr. James Mwangi, chief executive officer, Equity Group.   “ We are humbled by these recognitions of our achievements in corporate responsibility, financial performance  and strategic growth. Through our innovative digital solutions, extensive branch network, and dedicated employees, we will continue to champion in shaping Africa’s financial landscape and providing exceptional services to our valued customers,” he added.