KCB rates from negative to stable due to technology says Bank CEO

KCB Bank is poised to maintain its strong business position and stable financial performance into the future, global rating agency Standard & Poor’s (S&P) has said while revising the lender’s rating from negative to stable.

KCB Group Chief Executive Officer and Managing Director Joshua Oigara said the Bank’s future outlook remained positive riding on increased and deliberate strategic investments in digital solutions and customer centric propositions anchored on new technology. “The rating confirms that KCB fundamentals remain strong and we are going all out to solidify this position,” said Mr Oigara.

In its latest assessment of the region’s biggest bank by asset and profitability, S&P said the revised outlook of ‘B+/B’ is in line with a similar rating outlook for the country.

“It is our opinion that KCB’s business position will be supportive of the group’s broadly stable asset quality and capitalization in the context of strong economic performance and growth prospects in Kenya,” said the rating agency. “As such, we think that KCB will be well placed to benefit from the stronger operating environment and will maintain a broadly stable financial profile.

The ratings on KCB are supported by solid profitability metrics, a strong domestic retail and corporate franchise, strong capital buffers, a well-structured deposit-based funding model and high level of liquid assets.

With a new operating environment in the Kenya’s financial sector following the enactment of a law capping interest rates, S&P believes that KCB is best placed to weather the storm. “While we expect credit losses will increase and margins will reduce on the back of interest rates caps introduced to the sector, we think that the group’s access to low-cost deposits, competitive margins, and well established corporate lending franchise will support its earning generation over the next 12-18 months,” said S&P.

The rating agency is forecasting that the Kenyan economy will continue to grow at six per cent and that Kenya’s largest bank by asset base is well-positioned to reap from the better country grade.