CRDB Bank has once again cemented its reputation as a pillar of inclusive economic growth, being named Best SME Bank in Africa at the prestigious 2025 African Banker Awards. The award, presented at a high-profile ceremony on the sidelines of the African Development Bank (AfDB) Annual Meetings in Abidjan, Côte d’Ivoire, officially kicks off a new chapter in recognition of CRDB’s transformative role in empowering small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) across the continent. This year’s theme, “Climate Change and Sustainable Development,” emphasized the critical role financial institutions must play in fostering inclusive and green growth and CRDB Bank stood out as a continental leader in that mission.
Celebrating its 30th anniversary this year, CRDB has gone far beyond traditional banking to champion an ecosystem where SMEs thrive. Over the past three decades, the bank has disbursed more than Sh1.2 trillion in loans to over 230,000 entrepreneurs across Tanzania. But its real impact lies not just in numbers but in how those funds have been tailored, channeled and complemented with tools to enable growth, formalisation and long-term sustainability. The award serves as a powerful endorsement of CRDB’s unwavering commitment to small businesses and the people who run them, especially women and youth entrepreneurs who often face systemic barriers to accessing capital.
CRDB Bank was the first in Tanzania to launch a dedicated SME department, back in 2000. That early foresight has since evolved into a comprehensive, multi-tiered strategy that blends innovative financial products, digital technology and strategic partnerships. In 2024, the bank revamped its flagship Biashara Account, making it easier and more intuitive for small business owners to manage their finances. The rollout of digital payment tools like LIPA HAPA and point-of-sale (PoS) devices has given SMEs modern solutions to streamline operations, boost sales and connect with the digital economy. CRDB has also introduced targeted products like Mkopo wa Komboa, designed specifically to help importers clear goods from ports more efficiently, preventing costly delays and keeping supply chains fluid.
The bank’s vision goes well beyond banking halls. It actively builds capacity by sponsoring international study tours, giving Tanzanian entrepreneurs direct exposure to global markets, innovative practices and business trends. This global perspective, combined with deep local knowledge, enables SMEs to scale intelligently and sustainably. Through these initiatives, CRDB positions itself not merely as a lender but as a partner in progress.
CRDB’s strength lies not only in its product suite but also in its powerful network of partnerships. In recent years, the bank has mobilised over $700 million (Sh1.8 trillion) through collaborations with global and regional players such as AGF, PROPARCO, DFC, GuarantCo, GCF, PASS and TADB. These alliances have significantly expanded the bank’s ability to finance SMEs, pushing resources to where they are needed most, on the front lines of grassroots economic development. This approach has also helped the bank drive inclusive finance with a gender lens, as evidenced by its nomination for AFAWA Bank of the Year, under AfDB’s Affirmative Finance Action for Women in Africa initiative.
Adding to its impressive accolades this year, CRDB Bank’s CEO Abdulmajid Mussa Nsekela was nominated for Banker of the Year, while the institution also received a nomination for Best Bank for Sustainable Development, further reinforcing its reputation as a mission-driven bank committed to climate resilience and social inclusion.
Receiving the award in Abidjan, CRDB’s Chief Commercial Officer, Mr Boma Raballa, underscored the heart of the bank’s philosophy. “This award is a testament to our belief that inclusive economic growth begins with empowering small businesses,” he said. “It belongs not just to CRDB but to the entire community of entrepreneurs who trust us to walk the journey with them.”
That journey is now firmly anchored in the bank’s 2023–2027 Medium-Term Business Strategy, which places SMEs at the centre of its operations. CRDB understands that economic transformation starts from the bottom up, from market stalls to small manufacturers, from young digital creators to women-led service providers. By putting accessible finance, smart tools and strategic support into the hands of these entrepreneurs, CRDB is not just growing businesses, it is shaping the future of African enterprise.
As this award kicks off a new chapter, it also affirms what thousands of entrepreneurs already know: CRDB Bank is not just a bank. It is a growth engine, an enabler and a trusted partner for every SME ready to rise.
