SWIFT codes in Kenya

KE · KES

Find the correct SWIFT/BIC code for banks in Kenya. Use these codes when sending or receiving international wire transfers. A SWIFT code ensures your payment is routed to the correct bank and branch.

Banks and SWIFT codes in Kenya

50 banks grouped A–Z — tap a letter to view their SWIFT/BIC codes.

Showing 100 of 166 registered branch codes for Kenya. The full registry is searchable at swift.com, the authority that issues them.

Frequently asked questions

How SWIFT works in Kenya

The Central Bank of Kenya (CBK) regulates banking and foreign exchange. Kenya has a dual financial ecosystem: M-Pesa dominates domestic mobile money transfers, while SWIFT underpins international wire transfers through the formal banking sector. Major Kenyan banks including KCB, Equity Bank, Co-operative Bank, and NCBA are all connected to SWIFT. Inbound international wires are credited in either KES or foreign currency depending on account type.

• Kenya's four largest banks for international transfers are Kenya Commercial Bank (KCB), Equity Bank, Cooperative Bank of Kenya, and NCBA (formed from the merger of NIC Bank and Commercial Bank of Africa). Stanbic Kenya (a subsidiary of Standard Bank Group) and Absa Kenya are commonly used for USD and EUR corporate payments due to their South African parent networks.
• CBK regulations permit Kenyans to hold foreign currency accounts (FCAs) at licensed banks. Inbound USD, EUR, or GBP transfers can be credited directly to an FCA without mandatory conversion to KES. This is advantageous for recipients who receive regular foreign payments and want to avoid conversion at unfavorable rates.
• M-Pesa cannot directly receive international SWIFT wire transfers, but providers like Western Union and WorldRemit can deliver funds to M-Pesa wallets using their own networks. For bank-to-bank international transfers, the sender must use the recipient bank's SWIFT code. Settlement is typically within one to two business days.
• 2026 update: <a href="/news/absa-thunes-global-pay-africa-remittances">Absa Group's Global Pay platform (March 2026)</a> added Kenya to its 18-country African remittance network, settling directly into M-Pesa wallets via Thunes' infrastructure. Combined with WorldRemit's long-standing M-Pesa rail and TapTap Send's competitive KES corridor pricing, the practical effect for diaspora senders from the UK, US, EU, and Gulf is that mobile-money delivery now usually beats SWIFT bank-to-bank wires on both speed (minutes vs 1–2 days) and cost (sub-1% all-in vs 2–3% via SWIFT correspondents). For high-value or business payments, SWIFT via KCB, Equity, Co-op, NCBA, Stanbic, or Absa Kenya remains the right rail; for everyday remittances, the wallet rails win.