The 26th Edition Connected Banking Summit – East Africa | Innovation & Excellence Awards 2026 successfully concluded at the prestigious Radisson Blu Hotel, Nairobi Upper Hill, bringing together the region’s most influential leaders shaping the future of banking, fintech, and digital finance.
Organized by the International Center for Strategic Alliances (ICSA), the summit convened a distinguished gathering of banking executives, fintech innovators, regulators, cybersecurity experts, and technology leaders from across East Africa. The summit served as a high-impact platform for collaboration, thought leadership, and innovation driving the transformation of the region’s financial ecosystem.
Held under the theme:
“Driving Digital Banking Evolution and Financial Technology Integration Across East Africa,”
the summit explored how financial institutions are accelerating digital transformation through AI-powered banking, advanced cybersecurity frameworks, embedded finance, open banking ecosystems, and scalable financial inclusion strategies.
Industry leaders shared insights on how financial institutions can navigate regulatory complexity while delivering secure, seamless, and customer-centric digital banking experiences in an increasingly connected financial landscape.
Celebrating International Women’s Day
She: Strengthening Her Equality
In recognition of International Women’s Day, the summit proudly hosted a special segment titled “She: Strengthening Her Equality.”
This dedicated segment celebrated the remarkable contributions of women leaders across the banking, fintech, and financial services sectors, highlighting their growing influence in shaping innovation, leadership, and transformation within the industry.
The initiative underscored the importance of inclusive leadership, equal opportunities, and empowering women in technology and finance, reinforcing the summit’s commitment to promoting diversity and strengthening gender equality within the global financial ecosystem.
Distinguished Guest of Honour
The summit was honoured by the presence of:
Timothy Were
Deputy ICT Director
Ministry of ICT, Innovation and Youth Affairs
Industry Leaders Driving the Conversation
The summit featured an exceptional line-up of influential speakers who shared strategic insights on banking innovation, risk management, financial inclusion, and emerging technologies:
The summit was made possible through the support of leading industry partners committed to driving financial innovation.
Platinum Sponsor
• Azentio
Lead Sponsor
• FPG Technologies & Solutions Ltd
Innovation & Excellence Awards 2026 – Honouring Industry Leaders
The summit concluded with the prestigious Innovation & Excellence Awards 2026, recognising institutions and leaders who have demonstrated outstanding achievements in banking innovation, technology adoption, and financial leadership.
Award Winners
Excellence in Islamic Banking – Gulf African Bank
Excellence in Corporate Banking – Stanbic Bank Kenya
Bank of the Year – Equity Bank Kenya
Excellence in Retail Banking – Diamond Trust Bank Kenya
Excellence in SME Banking – Co-operative Bank of Kenya
Excellence in Investment Banking – Standard Chartered Bank Kenya
Excellence in Transaction Banking – Access Bank Kenya
Excellence in Trade Finance – Ecobank Kenya
Excellence in Asset Finance – NCBA Bank Kenya
Excellence in Financial Inclusion – Family Bank
Excellence in Customer Experience – I&M Bank Kenya
CISO of the Year – Thelma Kganakga
CDO of the Year – Hartnell Ndungi
Best Technology Solutions Provider of the Year – Azentio
CEO of the Year – James Mwangi
Excellence in Commercial Banking – UBA Bank Kenya
Outstanding Leadership in Banking – Mary Mulili
Excellence in E-Banking – KCB Bank Kenya
Excellence in Banking Services – Absa Bank Kenya
Looking Ahead – Connected Banking Summit 2026 Global Series
Following the successful 26th East Africa Edition in Nairobi, the Connected Banking Summit 2026 Global Series continues its journey across major financial hubs throughout the year:
27th Edition – Cairo, Egypt | April 2026
28th Edition – Johannesburg, South Africa | July 2026
29th Edition – Addis Ababa, Ethiopia | August 2026
30th Edition – Riyadh, Saudi Arabia | September 2026
31st Edition – Istanbul, Turkey | October 2026
32nd Edition – Muscat, Oman | November 2026
8 Countries. One Vision. A Year of Impact.
The Connected Banking Summit Series continues to provide a global platform for industry leaders to collaborate, innovate, and shape the future of financial services across emerging and developed markets.
About the International Center for Strategic Alliances (ICSA)
The International Center for Strategic Alliances (ICSA) is a global leader in organizing high-level business summits, conferences, and strategic forums that bring together government leaders, industry pioneers, technology innovators, and decision-makers across multiple sectors.
Through its flagship summit series, ICSA facilitates knowledge exchange, business collaboration, and innovation-driven dialogue, helping organizations navigate emerging opportunities and challenges in a rapidly evolving global economy.
26th Connected Banking Summit – East Africa 2026 Concludes Successfully in Nairobi, Driving the Next Phase of Digital Finance Innovation
Press Release
Nairobi, Kenya | 11 March 2026
The 26th Edition Connected Banking Summit – East Africa | Innovation & Excellence Awards 2026 successfully concluded at the prestigious Radisson Blu Hotel, Nairobi Upper Hill, bringing together the region’s most influential leaders shaping the future of banking, fintech, and digital finance.
Held under the theme:
“Driving Digital Banking Evolution and Financial Technology Integration Across East Africa,”
the summit explored how financial institutions are accelerating digital transformation through AI-powered banking, advanced cybersecurity frameworks, embedded finance, open banking ecosystems, and scalable financial inclusion strategies.
Industry leaders shared insights on how financial institutions can navigate regulatory complexity while delivering secure, seamless, and customer-centric digital banking experiences in an increasingly connected financial landscape.
Celebrating International Women’s Day
She: Strengthening Her Equality
In recognition of International Women’s Day, the summit proudly hosted a special segment titled “She: Strengthening Her Equality.”
The initiative underscored the importance of inclusive leadership, equal opportunities, and empowering women in technology and finance, reinforcing the summit’s commitment to promoting diversity and strengthening gender equality within the global financial ecosystem.
Distinguished Guest of Honour
The summit was honoured by the presence of:
Timothy Were
Deputy ICT Director
Ministry of ICT, Innovation and Youth Affairs
The summit featured an exceptional line-up of influential speakers who shared strategic insights on banking innovation, risk management, financial inclusion, and emerging technologies:
The summit was made possible through the support of leading industry partners committed to driving financial innovation.
Platinum Sponsor
• Azentio
Lead Sponsor
• FPG Technologies & Solutions Ltd
Innovation & Excellence Awards 2026 – Honouring Industry Leaders
The summit concluded with the prestigious Innovation & Excellence Awards 2026, recognising institutions and leaders who have demonstrated outstanding achievements in banking innovation, technology adoption, and financial leadership.
Following the successful 26th East Africa Edition in Nairobi, the Connected Banking Summit 2026 Global Series continues its journey across major financial hubs throughout the year:
8 Countries. One Vision. A Year of Impact.
The Connected Banking Summit Series continues to provide a global platform for industry leaders to collaborate, innovate, and shape the future of financial services across emerging and developed markets.
About the International Center for Strategic Alliances (ICSA)
The International Center for Strategic Alliances (ICSA) is a global leader in organizing high-level business summits, conferences, and strategic forums that bring together government leaders, industry pioneers, technology innovators, and decision-makers across multiple sectors.
Through its flagship summit series, ICSA facilitates knowledge exchange, business collaboration, and innovation-driven dialogue, helping organizations navigate emerging opportunities and challenges in a rapidly evolving global economy.
Media Contact
📞 Phone: +44 20 3808 8625
📧 Email: info@intercsa.com
🌐 Website: www.intercsa.com