CRDB's Loan Book Hits 16.9trn/- as SME Lending Surges 54%

CRDB Bank's net loan portfolio reached 16.9trn/- as of June 2026, up 38 per cent year on year — and lending to micro, small and medium-sized enterprises grew even faster, at 54 per cent. Acting Managing Director Musa Kitambi disclosed the figures at the fourth Instaprenyua Forum in Dar es Salaam, where the bank laid out its strategy of building a full-service platform for Tanzanian entrepreneurs rather than simply writing loans.

The event opened with an endorsement from the top: Minister of Industry and Trade Judith Kapinga praised CRDB's investment in technology, innovation and entrepreneurship, framing it as a pillar of Tanzania Development Vision 2050. She argued that digital platforms are already helping entrepreneurs reach wider markets, lift productivity and add value to their products. Success today, she said, depends not just on access to capital but on knowledge, innovation and the effective use of technology.

"As we advance our economic transformation agenda, entrepreneurship and technology must go hand in hand," Kapinga said. "I commend CRDB Bank for recognising this opportunity and continuing to create platforms that equip entrepreneurs with relevant knowledge, digital solutions and connections to new business opportunities."

The minister also pointed to the role of public-private partnerships in pulling young people and women into the economy. She credited CRDB Bank and the CRDB Bank Foundation for work in financial literacy, entrepreneurship training and seed capital — including through the iMbeju programme.

What does this change for small businesses?

The practical answer sits in the bank's toolkit. Kitambi said businesses can already use CRDB Lipa Hapa, SimBanking and Internet Banking to receive and make payments, track transactions and manage their finances securely. SMEs sit at the centre of the bank's strategy, he added, because of their contribution to jobs, productivity and national growth — and the 54 per cent SME lending growth outpacing the 38 per cent overall book makes that priority visible in the numbers.

"We see the digital economy as a transformative opportunity to redefine how businesses operate, compete and grow," Kitambi said. "Our ambition goes beyond providing loans. We want to support entrepreneurs throughout their business journey, from accessing capital and receiving payments to managing their finances, expanding operations and entering new markets. We want to see today's small businesses become tomorrow's medium-sized enterprises and ultimately grow into large, competitive companies capable of doing business across Tanzania and beyond."

That's a supply-chain pitch as much as a banking pitch: payments, working capital and expansion finance bundled into one relationship.

A forum that has doubled in size

Head of Marketing Joseline Kamuhanda said Instaprenyua, launched in 2022, has grown in response to entrepreneurs' changing needs. This year it expanded from one day to two and now includes:

• Expert discussions and practical learning sessions
• Product and service exhibitions
• Business deal rooms connecting entrepreneurs with partners, customers and investors

"We want Instaprenyua to be more than a knowledge-sharing platform," Kamuhanda said. "Our ambition is to give entrepreneurs opportunities to showcase their products and services, connect with the right people, build meaningful business relationships and unlock opportunities that can help them take their businesses to the next level."

Sessions cover digital business transformation, marketing and branding, content creation, financial literacy, business financing, legal considerations and modern banking solutions.

The forum gathers entrepreneurs, technology experts, government institutions, private-sector organisations and business development partners to explore Tanzania's digital economy — a mix that mirrors the public-private model Kapinga wants to scale.

For practitioners, the signal is clear: with a 16.9trn/- loan book growing at double-digit rates and a two-day platform linking SMEs directly to investors, CRDB is positioning itself as infrastructure for Tanzania's next generation of mid-sized companies. The 54 per cent SME lending figure suggests the pipeline is already moving.