10. Diamond Trust (2008 rank 11) : assets of 44.9 billion ($600 million) and nine month profits of 1 billion ($14.2 million). Loans (28.6 b) grew faster than deposits (33.1b), but expenses also grew faster than income. Neck and next with NIC and I&M banks with 44 and 41 billion in assets in position 11 and 12 respectively.
9. Commercial Bank of Africa (7): assets of 52 billion and nine month profits of 1.39 billion. Deposits flat (40 b) but loans (28.2 b) are up 20% this year and with GOK paper up 77%, however income and expenses are lower than 2008.

8. National Bank of Kenya (9): assets of 55.2 billion and nine profits of 1.4 billion. The bank is in great demand with a planned further divestment by GoK which may attract significant interest next year. For 2009, NBK has had a remarkable 40% growth this year, with 27% loans (12 b) and 48% in deposits (41 b)

7. Citibank Kenya (8) assets of 55.6 billion ($742 million) and nine month profit of 2.3 billion ($31 million). while embattled in the US, Citibank had a slow down in growth of loans (22.7 b) and deposits (29.7 b) compared to ‘08 but will still record a healthy +20% growth for year 2009.

6. CFC Stanbic (4) assets of 83.5 billion and nine month profits of 981 million. Bank had no growth in loans (43 b) and assets, but sitting on a load of cash – almost 16b billion (~$214 million)

5. Equity Bank (6) assets of 92.4 billion and nine month profits of 4.2 billion. Equity is still one of Kenya’s fastest growing banks though the 100% growth margins have tapered off to more manageable 30%+ for loans (55 b)and deposits (63 b) as it expands regionally in Uganda and Sudan and continues to roll out unique banking products.

4. Cooperative Bank of Kenya(5) with assets of 98 billion and nine month profits of 2.9 billion. The bank continues its 20%+ annual growth a year after listing and has diversified into investment banking. However their re-jigged executive shareholding following n ESOP is a sore point to be debated further.

3. Standard Chartered 3 with assets of 122 billion ($1.6 billion) and nine month profits of 5.2 billion ($69 million). Despite my earlier negative outlook, stanchart was a late bloomer and has come on strong: significantly, unlike other big banks, stanchart grew faster this year compared to 2008 – with 18% growth in deposit (89 b) and loans (40 b) while profits are up by 40% as income is up 23% compared to just 5% for costs while spearheading technologial products & services to their customers. Also increased investment in government securities by 77% and holds ~ Kshs. 36 billion now.

2. KCB (2) assets of 163 billion ($2.17 billion) and nine month profits of almost 5 billion ($66 million). KCB group is larger than Barclays in assets (185 b to 168 b) but has a smaller asset base than last year. In 2009 deposits (133 b) and loans (93 b) are up over 20% but profit is up just 3% – income is up 11% but expenses are up 15%, as KCB continued its expansion, opening six branches in November and also expanding in Rwanda Uganda, South Sudan and soon to Burundi. The bank also continues to weather occasional storms against it sustainability with triton and now Kenya planters coffee union.

1. Barclays Kenya (1)assets of 168 billion ($2.25 billion) and nine month profits of 6.63 billion ($88 million) . Barclays shrunk by 2% compared to growth of 17% a year ago with lower deposits (123 b) and loans (96 b) compared to a year ago but with profits ahead of last years pace, perhaps boosted by GoK securities investments which are up 23% this year.