List of Banks in Kenya 2026: All 38 Licensed Banks

Kenya has 38 commercial banks and one mortgage finance institution in the Central Bank of Kenya’s July 2026 directory of licensed banking institutions. The Central Bank of Kenya (CBK) licenses and supervises these institutions under Kenya’s banking laws. This guide lists each commercial bank by its official registered name and explains how to confirm that a financial institution is authorised to take deposits.

How many commercial banks are there in Kenya?

The Central Bank of Kenya’s July 2026 directory identifies 38 licensed commercial banks. It also lists HFCB Limited separately as a licensed mortgage finance institution. A mortgage finance institution is not added to the commercial-bank count. These figures refer to licensed institutions, not the number of bank branches.

The current banking sector includes locally owned, foreign-owned and government-associated institutions. Some banks operate under a brand different from their registered corporate name. Branch networks, ownership and licences may change, which is why the CBK directory is the primary reference.

Full list of licensed commercial banks in Kenya

The following names follow the order of the CBK’s published July 2026 licensing directory:

1. Absa Bank Kenya PLC
2. Access Bank (Kenya) PLC
3. African Banking Corporation Limited (ABC Bank)
4. Bank of Africa Kenya Limited
5. Bank of Baroda (Kenya) Limited
6. Bank of India
7. Citibank N.A. Kenya
8. Commercial International Bank (CIB) Kenya Limited
9. Consolidated Bank of Kenya Limited
10. Co-operative Bank of Kenya Limited
11. Credit Bank PLC
12. Development Bank of Kenya Limited
13. Diamond Trust Bank Kenya Limited
14. DIB Bank Kenya Limited
15. Ecobank Kenya Limited
16. Equity Bank Kenya Limited
17. Family Bank Limited
18. Guaranty Trust Bank (Kenya) Limited
19. Guardian Bank Limited
20. Gulf African Bank Limited
21. Habib Bank A.G. Zurich
22. I&M Bank Limited
23. KCB Bank Kenya Limited
24. Kingdom Bank Limited
25. Middle East Bank (Kenya) Limited
26. M-Oriental Bank Limited
27. National Bank of Kenya Limited
28. NCBA Bank Kenya PLC
29. Paramount Bank Limited
30. Premier Bank Kenya Limited
31. Prime Bank Limited
32. SBM Bank Kenya Limited
33. Sidian Bank Limited
34. Spire Bank Limited
35. Stanbic Bank Kenya Limited
36. Standard Chartered Bank Kenya Limited
37. UBA Kenya Bank Limited
38. Victoria Commercial Bank PLC

Licensed mortgage finance institution in Kenya

HFCB Limited appears in a separate section of the same CBK directory as Kenya’s licensed mortgage finance institution. HFCB operates through the HFC banking brand and is associated with HF Group. It offers banking and mortgage-related services but is counted separately from the 38 commercial banks.

Important types of financial institutions

Commercial banks: CBK-licensed deposit-taking institutions providing banking services according to their licences.
Mortgage finance institutions: CBK-licensed institutions specialising in housing finance and related permitted services.
Microfinance banks: separately licensed by the CBK under Kenya’s microfinance framework; not included in the commercial bank list.
SACCOs: savings and credit co-operatives regulated under a different framework; deposit-taking SACCOs are supervised by SASRA.
Digital credit providers: regulated under specific CBK licensing rules; a digital lender is not necessarily a deposit-taking bank.
Foreign-bank representative offices: may operate in Kenya under approval, but representation alone does not make the office a Kenyan licensed commercial bank.

How to check whether a bank is licensed in Kenya

Go to the official Central Bank of Kenya website.
Open Bank Supervision and its Directory of Licensed Commercial Banks and Mortgage Finance Institutions.
Check the institution’s registered name against the current CBK document.
Visit the bank’s own official website to verify branch addresses, account types and contacts.
For protection of qualifying deposits, check the bank’s participation in the Kenya Deposit Insurance Corporation (KDIC) scheme.
Before depositing money or accepting financial offers, verify that you are dealing with the bank and not an impersonator or unauthorised agent.

Choosing a bank account in Kenya

A bank’s presence on the licensed list does not mean that every account is suitable for every customer. Compare account maintenance fees, ATM charges, mobile and internet banking access, availability of nearby branches, foreign exchange services, interest paid on savings, loan conditions, and customer support. Request the bank’s current tariff and terms before opening an account.

Frequently asked questions

Is HFCB counted among the 38 commercial banks?

No. The CBK’s July 2026 directory lists HFCB Limited as a licensed mortgage finance institution, separately from the 38 commercial banks.

Are SACCOs included in the list?

No. SACCOs operate under a distinct legal and regulatory structure. For licensing information about deposit-taking SACCOs, consult the Sacco Societies Regulatory Authority (SASRA).

Where can I find the most recent banking licence list?

The Central Bank of Kenya maintains its official Bank Supervision licensing directory. Consult the latest available document when you need to confirm a bank’s status, especially before making a deposit or financial commitment.