Equity Bank has challenged Small and Medium-sized Enterprises (SMEs) to partner with the bank in their expansion plans. The bank has also committed to facilitating SME’s regional and global market linkages as well as enhancing their access to affordable credit.
Addressing select High Networth Individuals (HNIs) and some of the high-impact SMEs in Nairobi, Equity Bank Kenya Managing Director Moses Nyabanda stressed the banks willingness to support the entrepreneurs and foster business growth and job creation.
“We gather here not just as a bank and its customers but as partners in progress. At Equity Bank, we recognize that SMEs are the lifeblood of our economy. Your tenacity, creativity, and perseverance drive Kenya forward, creating jobs, expanding industries and uplifting communities. You are not just business owners; you are nation builders,” said Nyabanda, emphasizing the need for feedback from the HNIs and SMEs, majority of whom are captains of industry, leading industrialists, decision-makers and thought leaders who play a catalytic role in value chains growth.
Addressing the power of partnership for business growth, Nyabanda hailed the entrepreneurial spirit of the businessmen and women, drawn from within the Nairobi CBD Cluster, comprising six key branches—Harambee Avenue, Tom Mboya, Moi Avenue, Knut House, Kenyatta Avenue and Kahawa House— from the wider Nairobi East Region.
“We are here to reconnect, exchange ideas and get feedback from you. It’s also about the trust you place in us and the impact we create together. At Equity, we don’t see banking as a transaction. We see it as a relationship. We are committed to empowering you with financial solutions tailored to your unique needs, whether it’s working capital, trade finance, digital banking solutions, or investment advisory,” said Nyabanda.
“We are here to explore how we can support your businesses in unlocking growth opportunities across the country, the region and in the global markets. We are committed to supporting our customers through every phase of their business journey. Please challenge us with blended requests, don’t just come to us with fixed requests of loans,” said Nyabanda, stressing that Equity is driving the Africa Recovery and Resilience Plan (ARRP), which focuses on empowering the businesses, fostering economic transformation and ensuring sustainable prosperity communities.
Nyabanda reassured the businessmen and women affordable access to finance, saying: “We continue to enhance access to affordable credit, ensuring that businesses can invest in expansion, working capital and innovation. Through solutions like SME lending, asset financing and trade finance, we are providing the financial muscle needed to drive growth”
The MD also highlighted the bank’s commitment to digital banking solutions, saying they ensure that transactions are seamless, secure and efficient. He further said: “Equity Bank is more than a financial institution, we are an ecosystem built to nurture growth, empower entrepreneurs, and enable success through offering many other integrated services, including insurance. Our commitment to you as we look ahead, our mission remains clear; to be your financial partner of choice, walking with you every step of the way.”
Equity Bank Kenya Head of HNIs, Kevin Bwaley said the bank has a wide range of services and products targeting HNIs, including a “dedicated Relationship Manager, Priority Banking Services, Exclusive Investment Products, Higher Credit Limits and Competitive Rates, Wealth Management Integration, Tax Optimization and Advisory as well as Estate and Succession Planning”.
The breakfast, which is part of a wider plan to win over the hearts and minds of HNIs, aimed to strengthen relationship with HNIs and cooperate clients, while positioning Equity as a premium financial partner. Besides previous events targeting HNIs such as golf tournaments, Padel Tennis tournaments and others, this was also an opportunity to showcase the bank’s tailored services and offer networking opportunities, enhancing Equity brand positioning among affluent clients and creating cross-selling opportunities for our HNIs.