Rawbank reported net banking income of $681.8 million in 2025, a record 32.6% increase year-on-year, compared with 6% growth in 2024. Pre-tax profit rose 34% to $329.4 million, while net profit increased 8.9% to $231.6 million as tax charges nearly tripled to $97.7 million.

The strong revenue growth “reflects a broader revenue base, with significant contributions from lending, transaction banking and treasury operations across all our business segments,” Chief Financial Officer Kadija Sangho Keita said.

That broader revenue mix reflects Rawbank’s shift toward a more diversified banking model built around payments, financial structuring, markets, digital services and transaction banking.

RAW 2030

In 2025, Rawbank launched several initiatives to support that strategy. In investment banking, the lender structured a $400 million syndicated loan for the Kamoa-Kakula copper project and helped arrange the Democratic Republic of Congo’s first eurobond, which raised $1.25 billion in April. The bank also set up the country’s first modern trading floor.

Rawbank also accelerated its push into small and medium enterprise financing, deploying more than 5,000 financing packages worth about $500 million through its 20,000 SME program. It signed a partnership with COPA-Transforme to channel grants to around 5,000 SMEs over five years, for an estimated volume of $300 million.

The bank expanded its product range with the launch of leasing services and grew adjacent businesses such as bancassurance, whose business volume rose more than 150%. Digital services, agent networks and programs supporting women entrepreneurs also helped broaden its client base.

“These achievements are part of strong growth momentum, ahead of the rollout of the RAW 2030 strategic plan,” the bank said. The plan, whose implementation began this year, “aims to turn Rawbank’s solidity into a driver of economic impact for its clients and the financing of the real economy.”

The new direction was symbolized by an April 2025 rebranding, with a logo inspired by the Congolese leopard, intended to embody strength and resilience, and a new tagline that translates to “Rawbank. Beyond a bank, the future starts here.”

For Chief Executive Mustafa Rawji, the priority is now “the real economy — the one that creates jobs, income and productive capacity.” That focus is reflected in a 10% rise in the loan book to $2.29 billion, while deposits grew 1.1% to $4.8 billion. Over the next five years, the bank aims to lift its loan-to-deposit ratio from 47.8% to 50%.

The strategy also puts greater emphasis on financing SMEs and productive supply chains, rather than relying mainly on large mining accounts. Through its 20,000 SME program, Rawbank aims to support 20,000 small and medium enterprises by 2030.

RAW 2030 is also defensive. “The environment is changing rapidly. The economic, financial and regulatory landscape is becoming more demanding. The African banking sector is consolidating around increasingly powerful players. Competition is intensifying. Margins are tightening. In this shifting landscape, standing still means falling behind,” Strategy Director Thomas De Dreux-Brézé said.

To maintain its position as the leading bank in the DRC and Central Africa, Rawbank has set 2030 targets to grow its balance sheet from $6.8 billion to more than $10 billion, raise net banking income from $681.8 million to $938 million, and increase net profit from $231.6 million to $350 million, while keeping its capital and liquidity ratios above Central Bank of Congo requirements.

Pierre Mukoko & Boaz Kabeya