Ngao Credit has opened four new branches in Embu, Malindi, Kitale and Machakos as it moves to expand access to financing for businesses, traders, farmers and salaried professionals across the country.
The expansion, under the lender’s Ngao Mtaani initiative, is aimed at bringing financial services closer to customers and reducing the distance they travel to access credit.
The new branches will offer the lender’s financing products, including local financing, asset financing and import finance, including import duty financing, targeting businesses seeking capital to support their operations and growth.
Ngao Credit Country Sales Agency Manager Francis Mwangi said the expansion was informed by growing demand for financing in the four markets and the need to make credit more accessible to underserved communities.
“The idea behind this expansion is to reduce the hassles our clients face when travelling long distances to access credit. We want financial services to be easily accessible by bringing our services closer to where our clients work and live,” said Mwangi.
The lender is targeting businesses seeking working capital to sustain operations, acquire assets and take advantage of emerging market opportunities. It also aims to serve customers who may face challenges accessing credit from traditional financial institutions.
Mwangi said the four locations were selected because of their economic potential and the financing needs of businesses operating in different sectors.
In Embu, the lender is targeting farmers, traders and agribusiness players who require financing to support production and trade. In Malindi, its focus will include businesses in tourism, trade and the blue economy.
Kitale’s agricultural and trading activities offer opportunities to finance farmers, merchants and other enterprises, while the Machakos branch is expected to serve businesses and salaried professionals in the region.
“We want to become part and parcel of our clients’ success stories by providing financing that helps them unlock these opportunities and move their businesses forward,” he said.
The expansion comes amid continued demand for credit among small and medium-sized enterprises, which require financing to manage cash flows, acquire equipment and respond to changing market needs.
Ngao Credit said its lending model places emphasis on building long-term relationships with customers rather than treating individual loan transactions as isolated engagements.
According to Mwangi, referrals account for about 70 per cent of the lender’s KSh1.3 billion loan portfolio, reflecting the level of trust it has built among its customers.
“Seventy per cent of our KSh1.3 billion portfolio comes through referrals. That speaks to the relationships we are building with our customers and the confidence they have in our services,” he said.
The lender is also expanding its digital services through the Ngao app, which allows customers to access credit remotely and complements its growing physical branch network.
The combination of digital platforms and regional branches is intended to improve access to financing while offering customers support throughout the lending process, from onboarding to post-disbursement services.
“Our focus is to grow businesses and improve livelihoods across the communities we serve. We do not view every business as just a transaction; we build relationships and walk with our clients through different stages of their growth,” Mwangi said.
The four new branches mark the lender’s latest phase of expansion in the domestic market, with the company signalling plans to extend its reach further as demand for its services grows.
Ngao Credit said it would first focus on strengthening its presence and delivering value to businesses across Kenya before exploring opportunities in other markets.
“The new branches are a beginning, not an end point. Demand from customers in these areas has informed our decision to expand, and we want to build on this momentum by ensuring our services deliver meaningful value to businesses and communities,” Mwangi said.
