KCB Group has bagged two global accolades which have cemented the bank’s leadership position in customer service and supporting the East African region’s economies.

KCB was ranked the Safest Bank in Africa by Global Finance in the World’s Safest Banks, 2021 and also the most valuable financial Kenyan brand for the year 2021 by Brand Finance.

The Group received these two awards for the support it has given to its customers to cushion them against the adverse effects of the Covid-19 pandemic.

KCB rolled out several support initiatives and partnered with governments and other key industry players in driving responses when the pandemic struck the country in 2020.

It restructured facilities worth Sh120 billion in debt-relief which saw clients apply for loan restructuring, credit lines expanded and loan tenures extended to keep them financially afloat.

“The past year demonstrates the resilience of the banking sector, which stood as a bulwark against collapse during the coronavirus pandemic, supplying critical emergency funding as well as, in many cases, emergency equipment and supplies,” said Joseph Giarraputo, publisher and editorial director of Global Finance.

He added, “The safest banks are paragons of stability, and continue to provide necessary support for governments and communities as they seek to recover from pandemic’s economic shocks.”

Global Finance’s annual rankings of the World’s Safest Banks has been one of the most recognized and trusted standards of financial counterparty safety across the globe.

The winners were selected through an evaluation of long-term foreign currency ratings—from Moody’s, Standard & Poor’s and Fitch—of the1000 largest banks worldwide.

Brand Finance is the world's leading brand valuation consultancy and this is the second consecutive year that Brand Finance has ranked the top 150 brands of Africa by brand value and brand strength.

In Kenya, seven Kenyan brands featured in this year’s ranking and account for four percent of total brand value.

“We are proud of these recognitions. We are committed to building a brand which is not focused on profits alone but on the customers and the communities we serve. Guided by our Beyond Banking strategy, we are focused on delivering the very best in customer experience, driving a digital future. We are pleased that our efforts are being recognized globally,” said KCB Group CEO and MD Joshua Oigara.

For 2021, KCB Group was recognized as the Best Bank by the Global Finance - World’s Best Bank Awards 2021, Best ESG Solution by the Middle East & Africa Innovations Awards 2021, Most Admired Sales Company in Kenya for the year 2020 by Employability Test.com and Best Overall Bank in Kenya by FiRe awards.