DAR ES SALAAM – NMB Bank Plc has become Tanzania’s first bank to record a pre-tax profit exceeding one trillion shillings, reaching TZS 1.1 trillion in its 2025 results.
The milestone follows a strategic shift begun during the pandemic, when the bank moved from a profit-only model to being “purpose-driven and performance-led.” This focused on winning customers, driving efficiency, and innovating for the future.
“Our achievements stem from clear strategy, a resilient business model, and disciplined execution,” bank management stated.
Growth has been balanced. Non-interest income—from fees and digital services like the ‘NMB Wrist’ payment device—now makes up 32-33% of revenue, reducing reliance on lending. The bank maintains a low cost-to-income ratio of 37% and has kept Non-Performing Loans at just 2.5%, despite significant asset growth.
True to its developmental roots, NMB reported disbursing TZS 28 trillion in loans over five years, with TZS 7 trillion targeted at MSMEs and agriculture. It also commits 1% of annual profit to social investment, having allocated over TZS 23 billion to health, education, and entrepreneurship in recent years.
With its 2021-2025 plan complete, NMB has set its sights on a new horizon. Its 2026-2030 strategy, dubbed “Agenda 2030,” explicitly includes regional expansion as a key strategic intent. The bank plans a “prudent and disciplined” approach to inorganic growth, signaling that its trillion-shilling moment may be just the beginning of a broader East African footprint.
This achievement is more than a financial headline; it is a case study in how a major African bank can align deep-rooted national purpose with disciplined commercial strategy to achieve transformative growth.
