Nairobi, July 22 -- SBM Bank Kenya posted an 88.1 percent increase in net profit to Sh380.1 million in the half-year ended June 2026, helped by lower deposit costs and higher income from transactions.

The lender had posted a net profit of Sh202 million in the corresponding period last year. SBM's non-interest income, including transaction fees, increased by Sh426.4 million to Sh1.4 billion.

The bank also paid Sh3.2 billion in interest expenses to depositors during the review period, down from Sh3.5 billion a year earlier.

This boosted its net interest income-the difference between interest earned on loans and interest paid to depositors-by Sh340.2 million to Sh2.17 billion.

"Income growth was broad-based. Net interest income increased...