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| Registrar of the Treasury Nehemiah Mchechu (centre), together with NMB Bank Plc MD and Chief Executive Officer Ruth Zaipuna (second right) and NMB Bank Board Director Benson Mahenya (second left), jointly launch NMB Bank’s Medium-Term Strategic Plan for 2026–2030, dubbed Agenda 2030. The event was held in Dar es Salaam. Left is NMB Bank Board Director Prof. Sylvia Temu, while right is NMB Chief Financial Officer Juma Kimori. (Photo: Our Correspondent) |
NMB Bank Plc has firmly cemented its place in Tanzania’s corporate history after posting an unprecedented TZS 1.1 trillion profit before tax (PBT) in 2025, becoming the first company in the country to cross the trillion-shilling profit threshold.
The historic milestone was unveiled yesterday in Dar es Salaam during the launch of the lender’s new Medium-Term Plan (MTP) 2026–2030, dubbed Agenda 2030, marking the conclusion of a transformative five-year strategy that reshaped NMB into a performance-driven, purpose-led financial powerhouse.
A milestone built on strategy and discipline
Speaking at the event, NMB Managing Director and Chief Executive Officer, Ms Ruth Zaipuna, emphasized that the record-breaking performance was no accident.
“This performance reflects years of deliberate choices — expanding sustainable revenue streams, investing in technology and people, and growing responsibly,” she said.
The bank’s journey to this historic milestone began in 2020 when it developed and approved the 2021–2025 MTP.
Over the five years, NMB implemented a strategy anchored on three pillars: winning customer propositions, operational efficiency, and innovation, with cross-cutting focus on strong governance, people development, and enhanced customer experience.
Under the previous MTP, NMB generated a cumulative TZS 2.7 trillion in profits, positioning the bank as a dominant force in Tanzania’s financial and corporate sector. Its total assets surged by 142% to TZS 17.2 trillion, while customer deposits more than doubled to TZS 12.4 trillion.
“Operational efficiency improved sharply, with the cost-to-income ratio falling to 37%, placing NMB among Africa’s most efficient banks.”
Driving financial inclusion and national development
During the five-year period, NMB also significantly deepened financial inclusion, expanding its agent network from 8,400 to over 73,000 and growing its customer base to nearly 10 million accounts, the largest in Tanzania.
Over the five-year period, it disbursed nearly TZS 28 trillion in loans, averaging TZS 5.5 trillion annually, to households, SMEs, farmers, and corporates, supporting growth in agriculture, manufacturing, trade, infrastructure, and other key sectors.
The bank’s performance is reflected not only in profits but also in its contribution to national development. Over the five years, NMB paid TZS 2.7 trillion in taxes, distributed record dividends totaling TZS 700 billion to shareholders — including TZS 224 billion to the Government — and pioneered innovative capital market instruments such as the Jasiri Bond, NMB Jamii Bond, and NMB Social Bond, mobilizing funds for social, gender, and development-focused initiatives.
Treasury Registrar Nehemiah Mchechu, who officiated the Agenda 2030 launch, praised the lender as a shining example of local enterprise capability.
“The Sixth Phase Government, under the visionary leadership of President Dr Samia Suluhu Hassan, recognizes and applauds NMB for its frontline role in national development,” he said, highlighting the Bank’s exceptional contribution to Tanzania’s economic growth.
Digital transformation and efficiency gains
Heavy investment in technology — over TZS 230 billion in modern banking systems and digital platforms — coupled with recruitment of more than 80 specialists in technology, data, and cybersecurity, has transformed NMB’s operations.
“Today, over 94 percent of all transactions are conducted digitally, boosting efficiency and reducing operational risk,” Ms Zaipuna noted.
According to her, financial outcomes were remarkable as reflected in last year’s results. In the year ending 31 December 2025, profit after tax rose to TZS 750 billion, up from TZS 210 billion in 2020, reflecting a 258 percent increase over five years.
Shareholders enjoyed significant returns, with dividends rising from TZS 48 billion in 2020 to TZS 214.4 billion in 2025, while NMB’s share price surged from TZS 2,340 to TZS 9,960 (on Tuesday, January 27, 2026), delivering substantial capital gains.
Agenda 2030: Scaling Tanzania’s growth
With the launch of Agenda 2030, Ms Zaipuna said NMB is entering its next phase with a clear mission: to build on its record-breaking momentum while driving sustainable growth, innovation, and regional expansion.
The strategy, she explained, prioritizes customer experience, advanced digital banking, ESG-aligned financing, and funding strategic sectors such as agriculture, industry, energy, tourism, and mining.
“We are entering the next five years with confidence, clarity, and discipline,” said Ms Zaipuna. “Our growth journey will remain inclusive, sustainable, and anchored in creating long-term value for customers, investors, and the nation.”
As Tanzania’s largest and most efficient bank, NMB is set to continue flying the national flag in regional banking, combining scale, technology, and disciplined execution to reinforce its position as a regional champion rooted in national development.
Ends
Reviewed by Fahadi Msuya
on
January 28, 2026
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