STANDARD CHARTERED
Standard Chartered Bank: A Century of Excellence and Innovation
With roots dating back to more than a century in Kenya, Standard Chartered has transformed from market entrant to market leader through continuous innovation and unwavering client focus. As the first international bank to establish operations in the country, Standard Chartered has built a reputation for stability, trust, and forward-thinking solutions. Today, it stands proud among Kenya’s Top 10 highly performing publicly listed companies, delivering exceptional returns to shareholders while remaining true to its brand promise, ‘Here for Good’.
The Bank’s performance has remained consistent over the last five years, with remarkable growth in after tax profits and dividends per share. In 2024, Standard Chartered achieved remarkable financial results, posting a 43% increase in profit before tax. This outstanding performance was driven by a 21% growth in operating income, with net interest income rising by 13% due to volume growth and improved margins. Non-interest income saw an impressive surge of 40%, reflecting strong momentum across Transaction Banking, Financial Markets, and Wealth Solutions.
The Bank’s success can be attributed to both favourable market conditions and strategic internal initiatives. Kenya’s economic recovery led to increased loan demand and transaction volumes, while the Bank’s strategic portfolio management capitalised on favourable interest rates. Internally, proactive cost management efficiencies helped widen profit margins despite economic uncertainties. Shareholders benefited directly from this exceptional performance in 2024, receiving a total dividend payout of KShs 45.00 per ordinary share, a substantial 55% increase from 2023.
Standard Chartered’s continued success stems from its sharpened strategy centred on combining differentiated cross-border capabilities for corporate and institutional clients with leading wealth management expertise for affluent clients. In the affluent and wealth management space, Standard Chartered has distinguished itself through advisory expertise and differentiated investment solutions. The Bank’s commitment to excellence is evident in its continuous investment in upskilling its frontline teams, with many achieving professional certification, ensuring clients receive high-quality, professional financial advisory services.
The Bank offers clients a comprehensive suite of products including mutual funds, fixed income instruments, and structured products, all tailored to meet specific financial goals. Diversified product offerings have attracted new customers and strengthened existing relationships, boosting overall revenue. Clients benefit from world-class financial advisory services, priority banking, and exclusive wealth-building tools that help clients effectively grow, manage, and safeguard their wealth.
Standard Chartered’s strong cross-border capabilities represent a distinct competitive advantage, facilitating seamless financial operations through platforms like Straight2Bank, which provides real-time access to multi-country accounts. Its expertise in foreign exchange and trade finance has established the Bank as a reliable partner for businesses navigating the complexities of international commerce. In 2023, the Bank strengthened this position through a strategic partnership with Visa to enhance cross-border payments for small and medium enterprises (SMEs), helping bridge transactional gaps and unlock new economic opportunities.
Standard Chartered is focused on continued digital transformation. The Bank is investing in platforms that offer secure, seamless, and personalised banking experiences, delivering value to clients wherever they are. The Bank’s digital innovation encompasses blockchain technology for streamlined payments, AI-powered customer service, and the comprehensive Straight2Bank platform for businesses. Strategic investments in technology and collaborations with fintech firms have enhanced service delivery and customer experience, opening new growth opportunities in digital banking, with the Straight2Bank platform having a 90 per cent penetration and 80 per cent utilisation for its cross-border business.
These advancements have earned Standard Chartered recognition, including the Euromoney Award for excellence as Kenya’s Best Digital Bank, as well as the Excellence in Digital Banking Award at the 20th Edition of the Connected Banking Summit Innovation & Excellence awards 2025, East Africa. Further validating its market leadership, Standard Chartered received multiple accolades at the Think Business Africa 2024 Banking Awards, including Best Tier 1 Bank, Best Overall Bank, and Best Bank in Mobile Banking.
Sustainability forms a central pillar of Standard Chartered’s identity and operations. The Bank has embedded sustainable practices throughout its business, prioritising inclusive financing and climate-focused solutions. From expanding renewable energy financing to championing responsible lending, the Bank actively supports Kenya’s sustainable development goals. Standard Chartered has set ambitious targets to minimise environmental impact by reducing energy, water, and paper consumption across offices. The Bank gained the EDGE certification in 2024, which is a green building certification focused on making buildings more resource efficient. The Bank was the first organisation in Kenya to obtain the EDGE certificate.
In 2024, the Bank launched the SC WIN (Women’s International Network) initiative, designed to empower women-led businesses and entrepreneurs. The programme provides tailored financial solutions, capacity building, and networking opportunities to help women scale their enterprises.
In the last five years, through the Futuremakers initiative, the Bank has supported more than 54,000 young people and enabled the creation of 1,380 jobs through supported microbusinesses. These efforts build on the Bank’s broader inclusion agenda, which includes the award-winning Goal programme and the Women in Tech initiative. Since its inception in Kenya in 2014, the Goal Programme has empowered over 90,000 adolescent girls with life skills, financial literacy, leadership training, health education, and employability skills, helping bridge inequality and unlock the potential of the next generation.
As part of the Bank’s commitment to empowering women-led startups through technology-driven, inclusive innovation, the Women in Tech (WIT) initiative targets female entrepreneurs leveraging on technology to build or pivot their micro small and medium enterprises. Since launch, the WIT programme has attracted over 2,250 applications from 7 cohorts. To date, 77 female led businesses have gone through a 12-week incubation programme with 39 start-ups being awarded a total of KES 143 million to date. To support the alumni after incubation, the Bank has partnered with Village Capital. With a primary focus on early-stage, impact-focused start-ups led by women founders, the partnership seeks to address the gender financing gap that persists in the entrepreneurial ecosystem.
As Standard Chartered celebrates its continued inclusion among Kenya’s Top 10 publicly listed companies, it remains committed to delivering sustainable growth, empowering clients, and driving national development. While navigating challenges such as evolving regulatory landscapes and intensifying market competition, the Bank’s proactive risk management practices and customer-centric strategies position it well for continued success. The Bank’s future-focused strategy, century-long heritage, and unwavering dedication to excellence position it not merely as a leader in Kenya’s financial sector, but as a true partner in the country’s economic journey.
From retail customers managing day-to-day finances to multinational corporations executing complex cross-border transactions, Standard Chartered continues to innovate and lead, proving that after more than 100 years, it’s not just part of Kenya’s financial history but is actively shaping Kenya’s future.
