I&M Bank has secured multiple industry accolades that affirm the institution’s strategic progression in digital innovation, customer-centric services, retail growth, and financial inclusion. At the heart of these recognitions is I&M Bank’s crowning as Best Digital Bank in Kenya 2025, a testament to the bank’s commitment to transforming the way Kenyans engage with financial services in the digital age.
The accolades, awarded by the Global Banking and Finance Awards, included Best Digital Bank Kenya 2025, Fastest Growing Retail Bank Kenya 2025, and Best Multi-Currency Prepaid Card Kenya 2025, each highlighting unique facets of I&M’s digital and retail banking excellence. These honors reflect I&M’s successful transition into a digitally-led, customer-first financial partner that meets the needs of both individuals and businesses in Kenya and across the region.
Digital Leadership that Resonates Across Regional Markets
Being named the Best Digital Bank in Kenya positions I&M at the forefront of technological innovation in a sector that is rapidly embracing digital transformation. Banks in Kenya are increasingly moving away from traditional brick-and-mortar banking towards more convenient mobile and online platforms. For example, industry players like KCB Group reported that as much as 99 per cent of customer transactions in 2024 occurred through non-branch digital channels, reflecting how customers now prefer online and mobile banking over traditional methods.
Kenya’s broader banking landscape mirrors this shift. Mobile banking services are expanding rapidly, with nearly one in three adults using phones to access bank services and the adoption of mobile applications climbing steadily. Financial inclusion has also reached new heights, with over 83 per cent of Kenyan adults now having access to formal financial services, largely driven by digital adoption.
Retail Growth and Best Digital Bank in Kenya Recognition
In addition to its digital prowess, I&M’s retail banking performance earned it the Fastest Growing Retail Bank Kenya 2025 award. This recognition reflects I&M’s ability to attract and retain customers through a combination of innovative products, personalised service, and seamless digital experiences. Retail growth is increasingly tied to banks’ ability to offer frictionless digital solutions, including mobile apps, digital onboarding, real-time payments, and personalised digital services that resonate especially with younger, tech-savvy customers.
Another standout recognition was Best Multi-Currency Prepaid Card Kenya 2025, underlining I&M’s excellence in delivering sophisticated payment solutions for customers who operate in multiple currencies, a must-have feature in an increasingly globalised economy.
Championing Financial Inclusion in Agribusiness
I&M’s leadership in responsible finance was further affirmed outside digital circles with the Agri-lender of the Year award from ACELI Africa. This accolade is recognition of the bank’s impactful support for agricultural Small and Medium Enterprises (SMEs), a critical sector for Kenya’s economy. During the evaluation period, I&M Bank disbursed USD 12.7 million (approximately Ksh 1.6 billion) to 264 sustainable agribusinesses, focusing on youth and women inclusion, climate resilience, and food security, key pillars in driving economic growth and job creation.
This dual recognition of digital excellence and support for the real economy underscores I&M’s balanced approach: innovating for the future while addressing the foundational needs of Kenya’s economic landscape.
Regional Footprint and Cross-Border Excellence
Across the region, the bank’s subsidiaries also attracted noteworthy awards. In Rwanda, I&M Bank Rwanda was named Best SME Bank and Best Retail Bank for 2025 by the Global Banking and Finance Review, highlighting its strong customer-centric approach and performance in a competitive market. Meanwhile, in Uganda, the I&M Select Banking Sapphire Club won Best Innovation of the Year at the Marketing Excellence Awards, showcasing the Group’s culture of creative product development tailored to market needs.
The most recent awards add to a suite of acknowledgements the bank received earlier in the year, including Best Retail Bank and Best Bank in Product Innovation at the Think Business Banking Awards, and Best BSP Bank (1st Runners Up) by the Kenya Association of Travel Agents (KATA). These repeated honors reinforce I&M’s strong market position and continued relevance in a dynamic financial environment.
Digital Banking Growth In Kenya
The significance of I&M’s Best Digital Bank in Kenya award is amplified by the broader context of Kenya’s digital banking boom. Kenya has long been a pioneer in digital finance—starting with mobile money services such as M-Pesa, which have reshaped consumer expectations and access to financial products. Mobile money penetration in Kenya reached an extraordinary 91 percent by June 2025, reinforcing the country’s position as a leader in digital financial services on the continent.
Mobile banking and digital channels are also significantly reducing the need for physical infrastructure. Between 2020 and 2024, mobile banking usage grew from 52 percent to nearly 68 percent of users, while internet banking increased around 23 percent. Meanwhile, commercial banks report that digital channels now handle the vast majority of transactions, freeing branches to focus on relationship building and value-added services.
These digital trends are supported by Kenya’s high mobile phone and smartphone penetration rates, with smartphone adoption above 80 percent, enabling customers to access sophisticated banking services and tools right from their devices.
Strategic Vision and Future Outlook
Commenting on the awards, I&M Regional CEO & Interim CEO of I&M Bank Kenya, Kihara Maina, said, “These (Best Digital Bank in Kenya) recognitions are a strong validation of our strategy and our people. Winning across digital innovation, retail growth, operations, and sustainability reflects our ability to deliver real impact for customers and communities. Being named both Best Digital Bank and Agri-lender of the Year in the same year shows that we can innovate for the future while powering the real economy.”
This sentiment encapsulates the bank’s dual focus: leveraging technology to enhance service delivery while actively contributing to financial inclusion and economic development.
I&M Bank’s recognition as Best Digital Bank in Kenya 2025 is not just an award, it’s confirmation of the bank’s leadership in driving digital transformation in Kenya’s financial sector. At a time when digital adoption continues to reshape how Kenyans save, transact, borrow, and invest, I&M’s achievements reflect a strategic alignment with customer needs and the future direction of banking. As digital banking continues to grow in importance, both in Kenya and globally, institutions that combine innovation with impactful economic engagement will lead the way into the next era of financial services.
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