KAKEETO: The journey that has seen Pearl Bank hit key Sh1 trillion mark

What the report says

Pearl Bank says it is pushing to become Uganda’s leading locally owned, digitally driven and development-focused lender after its loan book moved past UGX1 trillion, according to The Independent Uganda. The report says the bank, based in Kampala, has used the milestone to highlight its growth strategy since rebranding from PostBank Uganda about a year earlier.

Managing Director Julius Kakeeto said the rebrand helped strengthen the bank’s national identity and support a broader push into corporate banking, agricultural finance, small and medium-sized enterprise lending and digital services. The article says retained earnings and shareholder support have helped fund the expansion, while lending has grown by more than 30% so far this year.

The bank’s lending mix reflects a strong focus on agriculture, which accounts for roughly 35% of the portfolio, and on financing that supports agro-industrialisation, value addition and exports. The story also notes Pearl Bank’s participation in government-backed schemes such as the Agriculture Credit Facility and the Small Business Recovery Fund, alongside support for larger farmers.

Beyond lending, the bank has expanded its Wendi digital platform and agency network, which the report says has helped deliver more than UGX3 trillion in Parish Development Model disbursements to over three million households. The bank says digital channels now handle most transactions, reducing reliance on branches as it targets wider financial inclusion and long-term growth.