I&M Bank Turns Setback into Success Story for Murang’a Businessman

Murang’a-based businessman Francis Maina is the final winner of the just-concluded “I&M Bank Shinda Millioni” competition.

Maina’s journey to this win has been marked by resilience. Last year, he lost his businesses in a devastating fire. At his lowest point, a close friend encouraged him to open an account with I&M Bank, a decision that not only helped him rebuild his financial footing but also paved the way for his participation in the I&M Shinda Millioni campaign.

I describe myself as a man of faith. When I received the call from the I&M Bank Kenya CEO informing me that I had won, I asked if this was real. It was only when I visited the I&M Bank branch at Kenol that the staff confirmed I had indeed won Kshs. 1 million,” he said.

The campaign, which ran from August 12th to November 12th, 2025, rewarded customers who deposited funds into their personal and Solo Biz Accounts. For every Kshs. 2,000 deposited, customers earned one point — the more deposits, the more points accumulated. The competition saw three winners of Kshs. 1,000,000 each and 10 weekly winners of Kshs. 50,000.

Eunice Kinyanjui, Head of Small Business at I&M Bank, notes that the competition is part of the Bank’s commitment to supporting small businesses and sole proprietors, particularly those who utilize its Solo Biz Account, a product specifically designed for solo entrepreneurs.

“Our focus is transforming the businesses of our customers, and this is why we continue to make the banking journey seamless,” she said.

The I&M Solo Biz Account offers a range of benefits for small business owners and individuals. Key features include no minimum balance and no monthly maintenance fees. Users also enjoy free transfers within I&M Bank, free bank-to-M-PESA transfers, and free standing order setup. The account offers daily SMS/email transaction alerts and provides customers with access to relationship managers, networking forums, personalized rewards, and a service guarantee for RTGS and SWIFT transfers, subject to the terms and conditions.

Additionally, Solo Biz Account holders can borrow up to KES 5 million through unsecured facilities.

Evans Brown, the Group Head of Product at I&M Bank, noted that more competitions and products are planned to further support the Bank’s small and growing business customers.

For Maina, the win isn’t just financial. “This prize is a symbol of hope and renewal. I plan to use the Kshs. 1 million to boost my business, and a small portion will go towards celebrating with my family during this festive season,” he said.

Maina joins two other winners who also bagged KES 1 million each in the competition. Other winners include Dorcas Wanga, who walked away with KES 1 million just two weeks after opening her business account with an initial deposit of KES 50 at I&M Bank in Kakamega.

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