Access Bank Kenya and National Bank of Kenya, both subsidiaries of Access Bank PLC, have introduced the W Initiative in Kenya. This is a programme designed to increase financing and business support for women-led enterprises.
The initiative is backed by Access Bank’s presence across Africa and seeks to promote financial inclusion and help women entrepreneurs access new opportunities for growth. Across the Access Bank network, the W Initiative has already disbursed 141 million dollars to women-owned and women-supported businesses.
In Kenya, the programme brings together NBK’s existing women-focused offerings, NIA and Almasi Lady, into one comprehensive platform. The unified approach is intended to expand gender-lens financing and strengthen the role of women-led SMEs in the country’s economic development.
Speaking during the launch, Barbara Barungi, Board Chair of National Bank of Kenya and Access Bank Kenya, said the programme reflects the bank’s broader mission of driving inclusive growth. She noted that the W Initiative has been created with the realities and ambitions of Kenyan women in mind and aims to support them in building sustainable enterprises. According to her, empowering women leads to stronger communities and long-term economic impact.
The W Initiative offers financial products such as W Cards, W Insurance, and W Loans and trade facilities. It is also supported by partnerships that help derisk women-owned SMEs. The programme also provides non-financial support that includes training, exposure trips, market linkages, networking opportunities and personalised customer engagement.
National Bank of Kenya Managing Director George Odhiambo emphasised the importance of investing in women-led businesses, noting their growing contribution to Kenya’s economy. He said the joint rollout of the programme demonstrates the bank’s commitment to removing barriers and giving women access to tools that can help them scale their ventures.
In Kenya, only about 7% of women-owned MSMEs can access formal credit and women-led businesses receive just 36% of total MSME lending.
The W Initiative will address this by combining accessible financing with practical business support, mentorship and community networks. Access Bank says the programme has been designed as a holistic ecosystem that meets the needs of women at different stages of their entrepreneurial journey. The rollout in Kenya builds on models already implemented in other African markets.
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