East Africa’s banking and financial services industry continues to shine on the global stage, with leading institutions from Uganda, Rwanda, Kenya, and Tanzania securing multiple honours at the prestigious Global Banking & Finance Review Awards 2025. The wins affirm the region’s growing influence, innovation, and customer-focused transformation within the global financial community.
The Global Banking & Finance Awards were launched in 2011 by the United Kingdom–based Global Banking & Finance Review magazine with the aim of celebrating excellence across the financial sector. The awards recognise organisations of all sizes for their innovation, achievement, strategy, and progressive practices. Over time, they have grown to encompass a wide spectrum of categories, covering banking, foreign exchange, insurance, technology, corporate governance, wealth management, Islamic finance, and corporate social responsibility (CSR).
Winners are selected through a rigorous process that combines industry nominations, independent research, and evaluation by a judging panel comprising the magazine’s research team, Editor, and Publisher. Importantly, the awards are presented throughout the year and remain free of charge for nominees, ensuring inclusivity and global competitiveness.
Uganda: A Showcase of Banking Excellence
Uganda emerged as one of the standout performers in the Global Banking & Finance Review Awards 2025, with several of its leading financial institutions receiving international recognition. The awards highlighted the country’s progress across key areas such as retail banking, private banking, corporate social responsibility, and innovation—sectors that continue to drive both financial inclusion and sustainable growth.
At the forefront was Centenary Rural Development Bank, which was named Best Retail Bank Uganda 2025, a testament to its deep reach among ordinary Ugandans and its enduring role in bringing financial services closer to underserved communities. Absa Bank Uganda also shone brightly, taking home two major honours—Best CSR Bank Uganda 2025 and Best Community Engagement ESG Initiative Uganda 2025. These awards underscored the bank’s deliberate commitment to social impact, sustainability, and the empowerment of local communities through well-structured initiatives.
In the field of digital and private banking, I&M Bank Uganda stood out with a double victory. It was recognised as the Most Innovative Digital Bank Uganda 2025, reflecting its leadership in leveraging technology to transform customer experiences, while also being named Best Private Bank Uganda 2025, highlighting its strong positioning in serving high-net-worth clients with personalised financial solutions. Adding historical weight to Uganda’s recognition, Standard Chartered Bank Uganda was celebrated for 112 Years of Banking Excellence, a milestone that reaffirms the institution’s legacy as one of the oldest and most resilient players in the country’s financial services sector.
Rwanda: Digital Banking and SME Support Leadership
Rwanda’s banking industry earned well-deserved international recognition through the outstanding performance of two leading institutions: Access Bank (Rwanda) Plc and I&M Bank (Rwanda) Plc.
Access Bank (Rwanda) Plc was honoured as the Best Bank for Digital Banking Services Rwanda 2025, a reflection of its commitment to harnessing technology to deliver modern, efficient, and customer-friendly financial solutions. This accolade highlights the bank’s success in expanding access to banking services through digital channels, enabling more Rwandans to transact seamlessly and securely in an increasingly digital economy.
I&M Bank (Rwanda) Plc. distinguished itself with a double win. It was named the Best Retail Bank Rwanda 2025, underscoring its strength in offering accessible and customer-focused retail banking services. At the same time, the bank received the award for Best SME Bank Rwanda 2025, which affirms its central role in supporting small and medium-sized enterprises. By providing tailored financing and advisory solutions to SMEs, I&M Bank Rwanda continues to position itself as a vital partner in driving entrepreneurship, job creation, and economic development.
Kenya: Innovation in Digital Transformation and Insurance
Kenya’s financial sector once again demonstrated its strength and dynamism on the international stage, with several of its institutions recognised at the Global Banking & Finance Review Awards 2025. The wins highlighted Kenya’s diverse capabilities across digital transformation, SME financing, insurance, financial technology, and investment banking, reaffirming the country’s position as a regional financial hub.
At the forefront of these achievements was The Cooperative Bank of Kenya, which received the award for Best Digital Transformation Kenya 2025. This accolade reflects the bank’s significant strides in integrating technology into its operations, offering customers innovative digital solutions that improve efficiency, security, and convenience. Its recognition demonstrates how legacy institutions can successfully evolve to meet the demands of a digital-first generation.
In the area of SME financing, Credit Bank PLC was named Best SME Bank Kenya 2025. This award speaks to the bank’s strategic focus on supporting small and medium-sized enterprises through tailored lending solutions, advisory services, and capacity-building initiatives. By prioritising SMEs, Credit Bank is contributing directly to entrepreneurship and economic resilience in Kenya.
Inside Uganda’s Property Market: Broll Uganda’s Moses Lutalo on Sector Realities and the Signals Investors Can’t IgnoreThe insurance sector was equally celebrated, with APA Insurance Limited earning the title of Best General Insurance Company Kenya 2025. This honour recognises the company’s leadership in offering reliable and innovative insurance products, helping individuals and businesses manage risk in an increasingly uncertain environment.
On the fintech front, Compass Plus Technologies was awarded Best Card Issuing Technology Provider Kenya 2025. The recognition affirms Kenya’s reputation as a pioneer in digital financial services, with Compass Plus playing a crucial role in strengthening card issuance infrastructure and enabling seamless electronic payments across the market.
Finally, Standard Investment Bank capped Kenya’s victories by being honoured with the 30 Years of Excellence Investment Banking Kenya 2025 award. This milestone reflects the firm’s longevity and consistent performance in providing investment solutions, advisory services, and capital market expertise over three decades.
Tanzania: Strong Performance in Risk Management, Corporate Banking, and Agri-Finance
Tanzania’s financial sector emerged as one of the most decorated in East Africa at the Global Banking & Finance Review Awards 2025, securing accolades across a wide spectrum of categories. From risk management and corporate banking to youth-focused products, agricultural finance, insurance, and capital markets, Tanzanian institutions demonstrated not only resilience but also the breadth of innovation driving the country’s financial ecosystem.
Standard Chartered Tanzania led the way by being recognised as the Best Bank for Risk Management Tanzania 2025, an award that highlights its ability to navigate uncertainties in the financial markets while safeguarding client assets and ensuring regulatory compliance. This recognition underscores the bank’s role in strengthening financial stability in a volatile global environment.
NMB Bank PLC reaffirmed its leadership in mainstream banking by winning two significant awards: Best Corporate Bank Tanzania 2025 and Best Bank for Youth & Students Tanzania 2025. The dual recognition reflects NMB’s strong presence in corporate banking, where it provides comprehensive financial solutions to large businesses, as well as its focus on nurturing the next generation of clients through youth-oriented products and services.
The National Bank of Commerce (NBC) received the award for Best Retail Banking App Tanzania 2025, marking its success in leveraging technology to improve customer experience and expand digital financial access. Similarly, CRDB Bank PLC was named the Fastest Growing Agri Business Bank United Republic of Tanzania 2025, a reflection of its growing footprint in financing agriculture, a sector critical to Tanzania’s economy and livelihoods.
In the insurance industry, Tanzania stood out with multiple wins. Jubilee Allianz General Insurance Company of Tanzania Limited Industry was honoured as the Best General Insurance Company United Republic of Tanzania 2025, while Assemble Insurance Tanzania was named the Best Group Health Insurance Company United Republic of Tanzania 2025. Adding to the list, Jubilee Life Insurance Corporation of Tanzania Limited secured the award for Best Life Insurance Company United Republic of Tanzania 2025. Together, these recognitions highlight Tanzania’s growing insurance sector and its capacity to meet diverse client needs in health, general, and life coverage.
Capital markets were not left behind. Orbit Securities Co Ltd earned the title of Best Securities Brokerage Tanzania 2025, underscoring the firm’s critical role in facilitating investments and deepening the country’s capital market participation.
A Region on the Rise
The success of East African financial institutions in the 2025 Global Banking & Finance Review Awards reflects more than just individual achievements—it signals the region’s collective rise in global finance.
From digital banking breakthroughs in Rwanda and Kenya, to ESG and CSR leadership in Uganda, and sectoral depth in Tanzania, East Africa is increasingly positioned as a hub for financial innovation and sustainable banking practices.
With financial inclusion, technology adoption, and customer experience at the heart of their strategies, East African banks and financial services providers are not just winning awards—they are redefining what banking excellence means on the continent.
