NBS core capital surges 44% to US$57m
CLOUDINE MATOLA
State-owned financial services provider, National Building Society (NBS), recorded a 44% jump in core capital to US$57m in 2025, up from US$30.4m in 2024, underscoring a strengthening balance sheet and improved financial resilience.
Consequently, the society’s capital position now significantly exceeds the Reserve Bank of Zimbabwe’s (RBZ) mandatory US$20m threshold for building societies.
“The Society closed 2025 with a sound and growing capital base. Core capital stood at US$57 million as at 31 December 2025, growing by 44% from the prior year and significantly above the Reserve Bank of Zimbabwe’s regulatory minimum of US$20 million for building societies. This growth was underpinned by a US$14m capital injection from our shareholder NSSA and was further bolstered by retained earnings generated by the Society,” NBS chairman, Shingai Mutumbwa, said.
Beyond capital growth, the building society maintained strong prudential ratios, with both capital adequacy and liquidity levels comfortably above regulatory minimums — a signal of sustained financial stability.
“Both capital adequacy and liquidity ratios, at 59% and 46% respectively, remained comfortably above regulatory minimums throughout the year, confirming the resilience of the Society’s financial position and its ability to absorb shocks while continuing to serve its customers and grow its loan book.
“This strong capital foundation is not merely a regulatory achievement, it is the bedrock upon which we will accelerate our strategic agenda in the years ahead,” he said.
Looking ahead, NBS is positioning itself for aggressive expansion in the housing and mortgage finance space in 2026, targeting delivery of new housing projects across four major cities namely Masvingo, Bulawayo, Mutare and Harare.
“For NBS, 2026 presents a significant opportunity to accelerate our growth trajectory. Our strategic priorities for the year include delivering new housing projects in Masvingo, Bulawayo, Mutare and Harare; scaling our mortgage book and deepening our housing finance market share; further expanding our digital channels and agency banking network; growing Lenderspark Finance’s SME and retail portfolio; and continuing to strengthen our capital base and risk management frameworks,” Mutumbwa said.
He added that the society will intensify partnerships with government, development finance institutions and private sector players to unlock additional funding for affordable housing projects.
Meanwhile, the society’s microfinance subsidiary, Lenderspark Finance, posted strong growth, expanding its loan book by 81% while broadening access to financial services for previously underserved segments.
“Through Lenderspark Finance, our microfinance subsidiary, the Society made significant inroads in extending formal financial services to previously unbanked and underbanked segments of the population. Lenderspark grew its loan book by 81% and expanded its client base across multiple sectors of the economy, with a particular focus on small and medium enterprises, informal traders, and individuals who lack access to traditional banking credit,” Mutumbwa said.
“As we scale Lenderspark, we are deepening our data analytics capabilities to better understand and serve this segment, while maintaining rigorous credit standards that protect both the customer and the Society. We see Lenderspark as a long-term strategic asset that will contribute meaningfully to the Society’s earnings growth and social impact.”
The growth of Lenderspark, he added, remains central to NBS’s financial inclusion strategy and its broader mandate to drive inclusive national economic development.
