Here Is Why The Entrepreneur’s Smartest Bet For Growth Is NCBA Bank

In business, you quickly learn that a financial partner isn’t just about holding deposits—it’s about fueling growth. NCBA Bank has positioned itself as that partner, equipping entrepreneurs with tools, capital, and knowledge. When I look at them, I see a model of banking that doesn’t just grow its balance sheet but deliberately grows its customers alongside.

For entrepreneurs, capital is lifeblood. NCBA has become a leader in asset financing, commanding nearly 40% of Kenya’s vehicle financing market. This dominance tells me one thing: entrepreneurs trust them with the very tools that drive their businesses—literally. When you control that much market share, it’s because you’ve earned it.

But financing alone doesn’t build empires. What NCBA does differently is combine credit with financial literacy training. I’ve always said—“The best investment you can make is in yourself.” NCBA lives this. They run financial education sessions where business owners learn not just to borrow, but to compound wealth. That’s how sustainable growth happens.

What excites me further is their integrated service model. You don’t just walk into NCBA for credit—you leave with insurance cover, risk management tools, and advisory services. For entrepreneurs, that’s invaluable. It’s the equivalent of a “master ensuite” in banking—everything you need under one roof.

A bank’s relationship with its clients should not end at loan disbursement. NCBA has proven this through consistent offline engagements where entrepreneurs sit with experts on money management. These sessions teach growth strategies—because money isn’t just earned; it’s multiplied with discipline and insight.

NCBA doesn’t stop at local mentorship. They organize benchmarking trips to global hubs like China, exposing entrepreneurs to global markets, supply chains, and innovations. Knowledge of markets beyond your borders is what separates a good business from a global business. That’s the type of foresight NCBA delivers.

Read Also: NCBA’s Insurance Play: A Masterstroke In Diversification And Growth

I’ve seen too many entrepreneurs fail, not because of a lack of ideas, but because of mismanaged finances. NCBA addresses this by embedding financial literacy in customer engagement. When you create a bank that grows people’s financial IQ, you build resilience. Resilient customers make resilient banks. That’s a Buffett principle.

When a bank’s customers grow, the bank’s bottom line grows too. It’s a symbiotic relationship. NCBA understands this, which is why its customer base keeps expanding. In fact, their digital customer numbers have risen by over 20% annually, driven by products like Loop, targeting the young, tech-savvy entrepreneur.

NCBA’s strength is also in strategic partnerships. For example, their collaborations with international financiers and insurers enable local businesses to access world-class tools and protections. If you’re building a business, this ecosystem gives you the kind of confidence that keeps you focused on growth, not just survival.

The bank also understands that risks are part of business. Their comprehensive insurance packages ensure entrepreneurs don’t lose everything when challenges arise. In my career, I’ve seen that protecting downside risk is more important than chasing upside. NCBA’s in-house solutions help entrepreneurs adopt that mindset.

Another area where NCBA has stood out is in SME financing. In 2024, they injected billions into small and medium enterprises, recognizing SMEs as the backbone of Kenya’s economy. If SMEs thrive, GDP thrives. If GDP thrives, NCBA thrives. That alignment makes the bank a natural ally for entrepreneurs.

NCBA also values innovation. With products like Loop, they’ve redefined how entrepreneurs interact with money. Think about it: a digital bank in your pocket that tracks expenses, projects savings, and offers credit. For modern entrepreneurs, especially younger ones, this level of insight is priceless.

Let’s talk about their international presence. With operations in five African countries, NCBA offers entrepreneurs cross-border access—something few local banks can match. For businesses looking to expand regionally, this presence means seamless banking across East Africa. That’s scale, that’s power.

A crucial number: NCBA disbursed over KES 500 billion in loans in 2024 across retail, corporate, and SME segments. That figure demonstrates trust on both ends—borrowers who rely on them, and a bank confident enough in its assessment of risk to release that capital. That’s how economies move forward.

Now, profitability isn’t just about the present; it’s about sustainability. NCBA has been consistent in rewarding shareholders, but more importantly, in reinvesting in technology and customer solutions. This reinvestment is the signal of a bank looking decades ahead, not just the next quarter.

In China, I’ve seen how financial literacy transformed entire generations of entrepreneurs. NCBA bringing entrepreneurs there is no accident. They want Kenyan business owners to learn supply-chain efficiency, global trade strategies, and scaling lessons firsthand. That’s the kind of vision I admire in a financial partner.

Entrepreneurship is about resilience. NCBA has weathered shocks, from COVID-19 disruptions to currency fluctuations, yet posted consistent growth. That resilience reassures me—and should reassure entrepreneurs—that this is a bank that won’t vanish when storms come.

If I were building a business in East Africa, NCBA is the kind of partner I’d look for. Their strength in numbers, their vision in strategy, and their commitment to customer growth all align with what I believe makes financial institutions great: creating value not just for shareholders, but for the entire economy.

At the end of the day, banking is about trust. NCBA has earned trust through performance, foresight, and commitment to entrepreneurs. For anyone serious about growth, I’d say: don’t just pick a bank that takes your deposits. Partner with a bank that grows with you. In Kenya today, that bank is NCBA.

Read Also: NCBA Equips 100 Private School Owners With Sustainable Growth And Digital Tools