Equity Bank has ranked among the top 10 strongest brands worldwide, making it the strongest banking brand in Africa.
According to the Brand Finance’s 2026 assessment of African banking brands, Equity is ranked as Kenya’s most valuable brand.
The bank has a Brand Strength Index (BSI) of 93.9/100, an AAA+ rating, and a brand valuation of USD 554 million (KES 71.6 billion).
“African brands continue to demonstrate exception[1]al brand strengths in local markets, with four banks ranking among the top 10 strongest banking brands globally: Equity Bank (Kenya), Capitec Bank and First National Bank (South Africa), and Kenya Commercial Bank place sixth through ninth,” read part of the report from the Brand Finance 2026 assessment of African banking brands.
With the brand value of KES 71.6 billion, Equity ranked as the sixth strongest bank worldwide. The BSI score in 2026 for the bank had increased from its 2025 score of 90.7.
Equity brand value of USD 554 million (KES 71.6 billion), superseded the brand value of Safaricom, valued at USD 453 million (KES 58.5 billion) in the 2024 summit.
Other corporates whose value was superseded by Equity included KCB Group, M‑Pesa, and Co‑operative Bank.
Safaricom registered a modest growth of 0.5 per cent in the value brand, having $453 million, while KCB had a brand value of $426 million, which was a nine percent increase in brand value.
M-Pesa had a brand value of Sh31.03billion that represented a 14 percent growth, ranking it at the fourth position after Equity, Safaricom, and KCB.
In 2025, the financial brand value of Equity was ranked in the 397th place, while in 2026, the global value rank of Equity was in the 304th position.
Reports from the Equity Bank show that the bank posted a net profit of Sh75 billion for the year ended December 31, 2025.
Also Read: Equity Bank Hit by Suspect Transactions Again After Firing Rogue Employees
Equity Bank Among Strongest African Banking Brands 2026
Twenty-two African banks feature among the top 500 banking brands in 2026, according to the report from the Brand Finance.
In 2024, Equity was ranked the second-strongest banking brand, up from the fourth position it held in 2023.
The strongest banking brand was Indonesia’s Bank Central Asia (BCA), followed by Equity Group Holdings.
Equity is holding the strongest banking brands in Africa, with a BSI score of 93.9/100, and in Kenya, followed by the Capitec Bank, which had a BSI score of 93.4/100.
The First National Bank had a BSI score of 93.1, Kenya Commercial Bank 93.0, First Bank of Nigeria 92.2, United Bank for Africa 90.0, Access Bank 88.7, GTCO 85.8, Investec 81.6, and Standard Bank 81.2.
Equity recorded a massive 81.2% increase in brand value compared to the brand value in 2025 of USD 317 million. South African banks dominate in terms of brand value.
“In terms of brand value, South African banks dominate. Standard Bank is the most valuable African banking brand at USD2.6 billion, up 19%, followed by First National Bank (USD2 billion) and Absa (USD1.8 billion), the report read.
Also Read: How Equity Shareholders Will Be Paid After Record Profit and Why World Bank Banned PwC in Kenya
Top Ten Banks Globally with High BSI Scores
- BCA Indonesia
- JP Bank Japan
- Vietcombank Vietnam
- Nubank Brazil
- Kasikornbank Thailand
- Equity Bank Kenya
- Capitec Bank South Africa
- First National Bank South Africa
- Kenya Commercial Bank Kenya
- Banca Transilvania Romania
