Banking Expansion: Standard Bank’s Stanbic Bank Kenya plans to double its retail footprint by 2029, adding outlets and agent banking while pushing digital channels to grow small business, consumer lending and wealth segments. Digital Investing Push: Absa teams up with EasyEquities to let its 12m clients invest through its app, deepening Absa’s push into accessible, integrated digital wealth services. Tech Spend & Cyber Risk: Nigerian banks’ Q1 2026 tech spend jumped 30.8% to N177.91bn, led by Zenith’s near-doubling IT budget, as cyber threats and data-breach concerns keep rising. Healthcare Finance Tech: Kenya’s Social Health Authority (SHA) rollout is driving multimillion-shilling hospital upgrades in electronic records, diagnostics and revenue systems to meet faster, data-linked reimbursement. Energy Deal: Uganda and Tanzania sign with Vitol Bahrain to develop the Tanga Regional Energy Hub, aiming to strengthen storage, refining and regional fuel trade ahead of Uganda’s 2026 oil production. Capital Markets Innovation: Nairobi Securities Exchange plans East Africa’s first AI-themed ETF before end-2026, targeting firms tied to AI platforms and tools. Energy Investment Outlook: Nigeria expects $30bn–$50bn in offshore oil and gas investment by 2030 as 22 deepwater projects move toward production. Islamic Finance Connectivity: Standard Chartered says only 6% of global sukuk reaches South Asia and Africa, arguing the UAE can bridge liquidity to growth markets via stronger financial and digital links.