DTB Tanzania sees 50pc profit jump on SME strategy
DAR ES SALAAM: Diamond Trust Bank (DTB) Tanzania posted a 50 per cent increase in profit after tax to 13bn/- in the first quarter of 2025, alongside total assets of 1.89tri/-.
The growth is attributed to stronger deposits, improved loan behaviour, and a strategy of prioritising small and medium enterprises (SMEs) as the core of its business.
Chief Executive Ravneet Chowdhury says DTB engages SMEs early in their lifecycle, providing financing, guidance on accounting, and sector knowledge as they scale.
Many businesses from trading shops in Kariakoo to food processors near Arusha operate without formal accounting systems but have clear demand for their products.
“We take risks on SMEs when they are small and grow with them, helping manage finances and sharing sector knowledge,” Chowdhury explains.
Instead of complex financial instruments, DTB has focused its SME portfolio on versatile working-capital support, helping businesses ensure cash flows fast enough to pay suppliers, staff, and taxes.
This approach is used by wholesalers in Morogoro and manufacturers near Dar es Salaam.
Digitization is central to the strategy, with tens of thousands of SMEs managing payments, payroll, and sales through DTB’s mobile and web platforms. These systems are integrated into the financial operations of the country’s productive sector.
Through a partnership with Somo, DTB channels funds into a revolving facility providing small loans to early-stage enterprises, backed by guarantees and coaching.
By 2025, over 900 businesses across East Africa received support, helping create or improve roughly 28,000 jobs. The bank provides capital and infrastructure, while Somo identifies beneficiaries, provides coaching, and tracks performance.
DTB’s strategy extends into education and social development. In 2025, the bank launched a five-year International Baccalaureate scholarship fund for Tanzanian students from less affluent backgrounds.
It also set up an ICT lab at Songoro Mnyonge Secondary School in Dar es Salaam, combining computers with financial literacy training.
Through the Achieve More Girls campaign, DTB reached over 600 secondary school girls in Mpwapwa District with 9,000 sanitary pads and information on health, nutrition, and personal finance.
Tree planting and environmental education link sustainability to livelihoods, especially in agriculture-dependent communities.
Chowdhury says the bank focuses on service quality rather than competing on price.
“If you deliver a good quality product at a good price, your customers will always come to you,” he notes, emphasizing reliability and long-term relationships.
