* This recognition reflects the quality of our vision and, above all, the passion, resilience, and excellence of our people
* Each member of the team plays a vital role in delivering the financial solutions that define who we are and who we want to be
By Duncan Mlanjira
For the 13th consecutive time, CDH Investment Bank has been honoured as Malawi’s Investment Bank of the Year by London’s Global Banking and Finance Review Magazine.
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It recognises its outstanding performance, innovation, and sustained leadership as Malawi’s leading specialist bank.
In accepting the 2026 award, Chief Executive Officer-Managing Director, Thoko Mkavea, highlighted that recognition reflects the quality of CDH Investment Bank’s vision and, above all, the passion, resilience, and excellence of its people.
“Each member of the team plays a vital role in delivering the financial solutions that define who we are and who we want to be,” he said.
“We remain committed to setting new standards in Malawi’s financial sector by harnessing talent, technology, and integrity.
“As we celebrate this milestone, we renew our pledge to continue creating value for our clients, our partners, and the communities we serve,” said Mkavea.
Thoko Mkavea, CDH Investment Bank’s Chief Executive Officer/Managing Director
On being honoured the prestigious award for the 13th time, Mkavea expressed gratitude to clients, saying the achievement rests on their trust and partnership.
Over the 14 years since its establishment on April 2, 2012 — following the conversion of Continental Discount House Limited, which had operated since August 1998 — CDH Investment Bank has built a proven track record by integrating investment banking and corporate advisory services with selective commercial banking activities.
It serves a carefully chosen niche client base, prioritising depth of expertise, tailored solutions, and long-term partnerships.
The results underscore both excellence and sustained growth. Profit after tax rose from K7.53 billion in 2022 to K11.141 billion in 2023.
It more than doubled to K23.534 billion in 2024, and advanced a further 84% to K43.221 billion in 2025.
Operating income expanded 69% in 2025, supported by strong gains in both net interest and non-interest revenues mainly from trade finance and trading of financial securities — with total assets reaching K974.2 billion.
Momentum continued in 2026. For the six months ended June 30, 2026, profit after tax rose 124% year-on-year to K41.0 billion.
Net interest income increased by 121% and non-interest income grew by 123% — with total assets expanding by 37% to K1,048.5 billion, driven by growth in interest-earning assets, customer loans and advances, fixed-income securities and financial assets.
Customer deposits also rose strongly, while liquidity remained robust.
“These figures reflect the solidifying of a specialist model that emphasises capital-markets capability alongside balance-sheet strength, sound governance, and operational discipline,” says the Bank.
“A landmark milestone in August 2026 was the listing of the holding entity, Continental Holdings Plc, on the Malawi Stock Exchange.
The Initial Public Offer (IPO), which was the largest capital raise in the exchange’s history, attracted more than 10,000 investors, ended a six-year drought of new listings, and reinforced the platform from which the specialist franchise can continue to scale.
On August 10, 2026, Continental Holdings Limited (CHL) was listed on the Malawi Stock Exchange (MSE), with 25% of the company offered to the public at K195 per share, raising approximately K135.4 billion from a 93% subscribed offer.
When welcoming Continental Holdings Limited as MSE’s 17th listed counter the bourse, Chief Executive Officer, John Kamanga described Continental Holdings Plc that later evolved into CDH Investment Bank as an “a diversified financial services group”.
On its first day of trading, CHL closed at K342.00 per share up by 75.4%, saying its IPO marked “the largest-ever IPO and retail participation in the history of the MSE, with over 10,000 Malawians participating — a milestone for shared economic prosperity.“
“The listing reinforced the role of the capital market as a home for patient, long-term and lower-cost capital, providing businesses with access to investors and the resources needed to grow.”
“For investors, continued participation is key to building a deeper, stronger and more vibrant Malawi Stock Exchange,” Kamanga said on his LinkedIn account.
Equally central to CDH Investment Bank has been deliberate investment in human capital as it has “prioritised talent identification, structured development programmes, continuous learning, and a culture that treats people as the core differentiator of a specialist institution”.
“In a market where specialised skills remain scarce, this commitment underpins the ability to deliver sophisticated advisory and execution capabilities.”
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Looking ahead, CDH Investment Bank emphasises that it “remains poised to consolidate its position by continuing to support its select niche client base with precision, innovation, and reliability”.
And Mkavea has been clear-eyed about the broader context, saying: “The work remains. Malawi requires heavy investment across infrastructure, productive sectors, and human capability if it is to transform into a significant middle-income country.
“CDH Investment Bank remains committed to partnering with the Government of Malawi in delivering practical solutions that serve its people and grow the economy in tandem with critical national priorities, a role the bank has played since its inception.
“Our specialist model is designed precisely to contribute expertise, capital intermediation, and long-term partnership in that national endeavour.”
“CDH Investment Bank offers a case study in how focused specialisation, disciplined growth, human-capital investment, and institutional longevity can produce strong results even in challenging environments.
“The trajectory since 2012, and the deeper roots dating to 1998, demonstrates excellence built on ambition and innovation applied with purpose.
“As Malawi pursues its longer-term development aspirations, institutions — with this combination of proven capability and stated commitment to partnership — remain essential contributors”.
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