Equity Group Managing Director and CEO, Dr. James Mwangi/FILEEquity Bank has been named Bank of the Year at the 2025 Africa Safety Congress and AfriSAFE Awards.
The award reaffirms Equity’s leadership in workplace safety, environmental management, and sustainability within the financial services sector.
The AfriSAFE Awards, Africa’s premier platform for recognising excellence in health, safety, security, sustainability, and environmental stewardship, brought together industry leaders, regulators, and innovators during the two-day congress held from November 13-14 in Mombasa.
The event culminated in a high-profile awards ceremony celebrating organisations driving the continent’s safety and sustainability agenda.
Reacting to the achievement, Equity Group Managing Director and CEO, Dr. James Mwangi, said the award underscores the group’s long-term commitment to responsible and sustainable banking.
“Safety, sustainability, and the well-being of our people form the foundation of our business. This recognition reflects the deliberate investments we continue to make to ensure our operations remain safe, compliant, and environmentally responsible across all our markets,” said Mwangi.
“We view this award not just as a milestone but as motivation to keep raising the bar on what responsible financial institutions can achieve.”
Equity Bank’s selection followed a rigorous multi-stage evaluation conducted by a panel of seven judges drawn from five global regions, including notable human rights attorney and scholar Prof. Gloria J. Browne-Marshall.
The judges commended the bank for its exemplary performance across key Health, Safety, Security, Environment, and Sustainability (HSSES) pillars, noting its strong Occupational Safety and Health (OSH) compliance, advanced HSE programmes, robust sustainability systems, and comprehensive staff well-being initiatives.
Equity’s Health, Safety, and Environment Management System
(HSEMS) was singled out as a sector-leading framework.
According to AfriSAFE, Equity Bank demonstrated outstanding safety and sustainability standards across its operations in Kenya, Rwanda, and South Sudan.
The bank’s emphasis on continuous staff training, employee welfare, and adherence to regulatory requirements further strengthened its position as a model institution in workplace safety.
These efforts have also enhanced stakeholder confidence among regulators, partners, and customers.
By clinching the AfriSAFE 2025 Bank of the Year Award, Equity Bank joins a distinguished list of organisations recognised for advancing a safer, healthier, and more sustainable continent.
The accolade aligns with AfriSAFE’s mission to champion innovation, promote cross-sector collaboration, and elevate HSSES practices across Africa.
Equity Bank Kenya is a subsidiary of Equity Group Holdings Plc, a pan African financial services holding company with other banking subsidiaries in Uganda, Tanzania, Rwanda, South Sudan, Democratic Republic of Congo and a representative office in Ethiopia.
Equity Bank Kenya is one of the largest commercial banks in Kenya, serving over 15 million customers.
Equity offers a wide range of financial services, including
retail banking, business banking, corporate banking, diaspora banking, and
digital banking solutions.
The Bank is deeply committed to financial inclusion, with a particular focus on serving businesses, women, SMEs, and individuals across diverse sectors.
Equity Bank Kenya has been recognised for its innovative banking solutions, strong corporate social responsibility initiatives, and significant contribution to Kenya's economic development.
