DTB completes $9.8 million Burundi sale, ends 16-year market presence

Diamond Trust Bank (DTB), one of East Africa’s leading tier-one lenders, led by Kenyan business executive Nasim Mohamed Devji has sold its 83.67% stake in Diamond Trust Bank Burundi S.A. for Ksh1.27 billion ($9.83 million), marking its exit from the market after 16 years of operations in the country.

The transaction, completed effective Dec. 31, 2025, was disclosed in DTB’s latest annual report. The Nairobi Securities Exchange-listed lender said the sale was part of a structured transfer of its shares to a consortium of local investors in Burundi, led by the existing minority shareholder.

DTB originally invested Ksh636.9 million ($4.92 million) in the Burundi subsidiary in 2008 when it was established as part of the bank’s regional expansion strategy. After accounting for transaction costs of Ksh41.44 million (about $321,000), the group recorded a net gain of Ksh592.5 million ($4.58 million) from the disposal.

DTB sharpens regional banking strategy

Group Chief Executive Officer Nasim Mohamed Devji said the decision was guided by a broader review of the bank’s regional priorities and capital allocation. She noted that the transition was structured to ensure continuity in service delivery in Burundi while allowing local investors to take greater control of the business.

“In 2025, the Group made a strategic decision to exit the Burundi market by transferring its entire 83.67 percent shareholding in DTB Burundi to a consortium of local investors led by the existing minority shareholder,” Devji said. “The transition ensures continuity in advancing financial inclusion in Burundi, while allowing the new investors to build on an established platform of governance and risk management.”

The exit comes as DTB continues to reorganize parts of its regional operations and deepen its focus on digital banking and internal efficiency. The group said it has been strengthening coordination across technology, credit, compliance, risk management, internal audit and finance to reduce duplication and improve service delivery across markets.

Assets rise to $5.1 billion, retained earnings reach $551 million

Following the exit, DTB operates 88 branches in Kenya, 29 in Tanzania, and 36 in Uganda. The Burundi unit previously had four branches. The bank has also been investing in digital channels, which it says are now central to how it serves retail and corporate customers across the region.

For the financial year ended December 31, 2025, DTB reported a 21.4 percent rise in profit to Ksh9.41 billion ($72.8 million), up from Ksh7.64 billion ($59.1 million) a year earlier. Total operating income rose to Ksh45.42 billion ($351.6 million), supported mainly by stronger net interest income, even as non-fund-based income declined to Ksh10.5 billion ($81.3 million) from Ksh11.7 billion ($90.6 million).

Total assets climbed to Ksh659.12 billion ($5.1 billion), while shareholders’ equity increased to Ksh101.1 billion ($782.8 million), reflecting steady balance sheet growth during the period. Retained earnings also rose to Ksh71.14 billion ($551 million), underscoring the bank’s improved internal capital position.