CRDB profit up 29.1% to TZS 672,068 million in nine months, but customer deposits fell in the quarter

The bank's Group profit after tax grew strongly to 30/09/2026. Its loans grew faster than deposits, and it borrowed more to fund them.

CRDB Bank PLC made TZS 672,068 million profit after tax in the nine months to 30/09/2026 (the bank’s own headline says TZS 672.07 billion). That is +29.1% on the same period a year earlier, when it made 520,464 million. But customers’ money in the bank fell during the third quarter, and the bank relied more on borrowing to keep lending. All figures below are for the Group and in million shillings unless stated.

What it means for customers and shareholders

The bank is much bigger than a year ago, according to its own graphics. Total assets were TZS 27.45 trillion at 30/09/2026 (+34.2% on a year earlier). Net loans (loans after setting aside money for bad ones) were TZS 18.44 trillion (+43.7%). Total deposits were TZS 17.79 trillion (+26.5%). Loans grew faster than deposits.

Customer deposits fell from 18,544,695 at 30/06/2026 to 17,409,616 at 30/09/2026. Borrowings rose from 4,147,284 to 5,835,449 over the same three months. The bank’s gross loans to total deposits ratio, which compares what it has lent with the deposits it holds, rose to 106.0% from 92.5% at 30/06/2026. A ratio above 100% means the bank has lent out more than it holds in deposits.

Where the profit came from

• Interest income, mostly from loans, was 1,864,964 in the nine months to 30/09/2026, against 1,408,818 a year earlier. Net interest income (interest earned minus interest paid) was 1,267,575, against 989,948.
• Fees and commissions brought in 508,541, against 396,453 a year earlier.
• In the third quarter alone, profit after tax was 255,210, against 174,010 in Q3 2025.
• Running costs took 41.4% of gross income in the nine months to 30/09/2026, down from 43.0% a year earlier.

Key figures

Bad loans and returns

The bank set aside (160,396) for loans that may go bad in the nine months to 30/09/2026, up from (106,909) a year earlier. Brackets mean a cost. Non-performing loans, which are loans where borrowers have fallen behind, were 427,526 at 30/09/2026, against 407,962 at 30/06/2026. They made up 2.27% of gross loans, slightly lower than 2.36% at 30/06/2026, because total loans grew. Allowances for probable losses rose to 252,790 from 203,469 over the same quarter.

Earnings per share, the profit attributable to each share, were 257 shillings in the nine months to 30/09/2026, against 199 a year earlier. Return on average shareholders’ funds, which shows the profit made on shareholders’ money, was 29.33%, against 29.0%. Return on average total assets, the profit made on everything the bank owns, was 5.0%, against 5.3%.

Cash and other details

• Net cash from operating activities was (1,778,919) in the nine months to 30/09/2026. Brackets mean cash went out. The cash flow statement shows the net change in loans and advances at (4,683,497), so more lending absorbed much of the cash.
• The bank had 268 branches and 4,811 employees at 30/09/2026, against 264 and 4,480 a year earlier.
• Al Barakah, the bank’s Islamic banking window, had total deposits of 426,977 at Sep-26, against 400,446 at Jun-26. Its total income for the current year to Sep-26 was 38,392.
• A footnote says the bank was penalised TZS 50 million for not meeting account-opening requirements.

What to watch next

• Whether customer deposits recover after the fall in the quarter, or whether the bank keeps leaning on borrowing.
• Whether the gross loans to total deposits ratio, 106.0% at 30/09/2026, stays above 100%.
• Whether non-performing loans keep rising in amount as lending grows.
• The bank’s full-year results.