Christine Kagendo 
Moody’s Affirms the East African Development Bank’s (EADB) Investment Grade Rating
Moody’s Ratings has affirmed the Baa3/Stable rating of the East African Development Bank (EADB). The agency highlighted the bank’s strong capital position together with an improved non-performing assets (NPAs) ratio (0.8%YE23) and robust liquidity levels were key strengths of its overall credit profile.
The bank’s leverage was noted to be amongst the lowest amongst its peers. Liquidity was significantly improved following the transfer of cash and term deposits from unrated to highly rated offshore banks. Concentrated credit lines from MDBs continue to provide stable and cheap sources of financing for EADB.
The stable outlook reflects a balance of upside and downside risks and notes that loan growth and concentration risk reductions would support a future upgrade. As such, Moody’s expect that EADB will adopt a prudent approach to new lending in the implementation of the new strategy for 2024-2028 and will continue to develop its risk management framework, while maintaining robust capital adequacy and strong liquidity levels.
The Bank’s Director General Vivienne Yeda said, “For over 50 years, the Bank has supported robust growth and transformation in the region.We are proud that Moody’s has affirmed our investment grade rating as the highest rated institution in East Africa. This is beneficial in mobilising cost-effective financing to support both public and private sectors enterprises to create sustainable and inclusive social economic development in East Africa.”
The East African Development Bank (EADB) was established in 1967 under the then East African Cooperation Treaty. In 1980, the Bank was re-established under a new Charter and the Bank’s role and mandate were reviewed and its operational scope expanded to enable it to promote social and economic developments and facilitate regional integration across its member states of Rwanda, Uganda, Kenya, and Tanzania.
The Bank continues to support the growth of small and medium-sized enterprises (SMES) which are the backbone of the East African Economies. Apart from the SME financing, EADB also finances projects that promote environmental conservation, renewable energy, climate resilience, Infrastructure, Agriculture, Agribusiness, Tourism sectors among others.
