Mombasa, Kenya – November 24, 2025 — Equity Bank has been named Bank of the Year at the 2025 Africa Safety Congress and AfriSAFE Awards, reinforcing its reputation as a sector leader in workplace safety, environmental management, and sustainable banking.
The AfriSAFE Awards — Africa’s foremost platform for recognizing excellence in health, safety, security, sustainability, and environmental stewardship — brought together industry leaders, regulators, and innovators during the two-day congress held in Mombasa from November 13 to 14. The event culminated in a ceremony celebrating institutions shaping Africa’s safety and sustainability standards.
Equity Group Managing Director and CEO Dr. James Mwangi said the recognition reflects the Group’s long-term commitment to responsible and sustainable banking.
“Safety, sustainability, and the well-being of our people form the foundation of our business. This recognition reflects the deliberate investments we continue to make to ensure our operations remain safe, compliant, and environmentally responsible across all our markets,” Dr. Mwangi said.
“We view this award not just as a milestone but as motivation to keep raising the bar on what responsible financial institutions can achieve,” he added.
Equity’s selection followed a rigorous multi-stage evaluation by a panel of seven judges representing five global regions, including distinguished human rights attorney and academic Prof. Gloria J. Browne-Marshall.
The judging panel commended the Bank for its exemplary performance across key Health, Safety, Security, Environment, and Sustainability (HSSES) pillars. They noted its strong OSH compliance, advanced HSE programs, robust sustainability frameworks, and comprehensive staff well-being initiatives — with Equity’s Health, Safety, and Environment Management System (HSEMS) highlighted as an industry-leading structure.
AfriSAFE noted that Equity demonstrated outstanding safety and sustainability standards across operations in Kenya, Rwanda, and South Sudan. The Bank’s emphasis on continuous staff training, employee welfare, and regulatory compliance further elevated its standing as a model institution for workplace safety. These efforts, AfriSAFE added, have also strengthened stakeholder confidence among regulators, partners, and customers.
By securing the AfriSAFE 2025 Bank of the Year Award, Equity joins a distinguished group of organizations driving a safer, healthier, and more sustainable Africa — aligning with AfriSAFE’s mission to promote innovation, cross-sector collaboration, and elevated HSSES practices across the continent.