Kenya currently has 38 licensed commercial banks under the Central Bank of Kenya. That number has come down over the years through mergers and closures, which is why older lists still float around with codes that no longer work. This guide focuses on the banks most people actually use day to day, organised roughly by scale, and includes the headquarters address, the current SWIFT/BIC code, and the USSD short code where one exists and has been confirmed.
A Note on Accuracy Before You Use This List
For any international transfer of real money, always confirm the exact code with the receiving bank or through your own bank’s transfer form. A wrong SWIFT can delay or misroute a payment for days.
Tier 1: The Largest by Assets and Reach
These banks dominate the market in deposits, branch networks, and digital reach.
| Bank | HQ Location | SWIFT Code | USSD Code |
|---|---|---|---|
| KCB Bank Kenya | Kencom House, Nairobi | KCBLKENX | *522# |
| Equity Bank Kenya | Equity Centre, Upper Hill | EQBLKENA | *247# |
| Co-operative Bank | Co-op House, Nairobi | KCOOKENA | *667# |
| Absa Bank Kenya | Waiyaki Way, Westlands | BARCKENX | *224# |
| NCBA Bank Kenya | NCBA Centre, Upper Hill | CBAFKENX | *654# |
| Diamond Trust Bank (DTB) | DTB Centre, Mombasa Road | DTKEKENA | *385# |
| I&M Bank | 1 Park Avenue, Nairobi | IMBLKENA | *458# |
| Standard Chartered Kenya | Westlands, Nairobi | SCBLKENX | *722# |
Tier 2: Solid Mid-Sized Players
These banks have meaningful urban and regional presence and serve a mix of retail and corporate clients.
| Bank | HQ Location | SWIFT Code | USSD Code |
|---|---|---|---|
| Family Bank | Family Bank Towers, Nairobi | FABLKENA | *325# |
| Stanbic Bank Kenya | Stanbic Bank House, Nairobi | SBICKENX | *208# |
| National Bank of Kenya | Harambee Avenue, Nairobi | NBKEKENX | *625# |
| Ecobank Kenya | Ecobank Towers, Nairobi | ECOCKENA | *335# |
| Bank of Africa (BOA) | Reinsurance Plaza, Nairobi | AFRIKENX | *987# |
| SBM Bank Kenya | SBM Tower, Nairobi | SBMRKENA | *275# |
| Gulf African Bank | Geminia Insurance Plaza, Nairobi | GABKKENA | *399# |
| Prime Bank | Prime Bank Center, Nairobi | PRMBKENA | Mobile app / contact bank |
Smaller and More Specialised Banks
This group includes corporate-focused institutions, Islamic banks, and smaller players. Many rely more on apps or relationship managers than public USSD codes. Where a short code could not be consistently confirmed across reliable sources, it is marked accordingly rather than guessed.
| Bank | HQ Location | SWIFT Code | USSD Code |
|---|---|---|---|
| Access Bank Kenya | Transnational Plaza, Nairobi | ABNGKENA | Contact bank |
| ABC Bank (African Banking Corporation) | Woodvale Grove, Westlands | ABCLKENA | Mobile app |
| Citibank N.A. Kenya | Citibank House, Upper Hill | CITIKENA | Corporate portal |
| Credit Bank | Mercantile House, Westlands | CDBKKENA | *699# |
| DIB Bank Kenya | Bunyala Road, Upper Hill | DIBBKENA | Mobile app |
| HFC Limited | Rehani House, Koinange Street | HFCLKENA | *231# |
| Kingdom Bank Limited | Kingdom Bank House, Nairobi | KDBKKENA | Contact bank |
| Sidian Bank | K-Rep Centre, Nairobi | KREPKENA | *527# |
| UBA Kenya Bank | Apollo Centre, Westlands | UBAKKENA | *368# |
A few names that still appear in older lists no longer operate independently. NIC Bank merged with Commercial Bank of Africa in 2019 to form NCBA; the old NIC codes (*488# and its separate SWIFT) were retired. Chase Bank, placed under receivership years earlier, was acquired in stages by SBM Bank Kenya. Those legacy short codes and SWIFT codes should no longer be used.
How to Read a SWIFT Code
Most of the codes above are the 8-character versions (bank plus country plus location). That is usually enough and routes to the bank’s main processing centre. If a form specifically asks for an 11-character code, simply add XXX at the end (for example, KCBLKENXXXX). The extra three characters normally identify a particular branch, and XXX is the standard default for head-office routing.
Domestic Transfers Don’t Need SWIFT
For moving money between Kenyan banks, you will almost always use Pesalink (real-time, phone number or account number) or KEPSS for larger amounts. SWIFT is only for international wires.
Practical Reminders
- USSD sessions themselves usually attract the normal network charge. The bank may also charge for the actual transaction.
- Many banks now push customers toward their apps or WhatsApp banking. USSD remains useful on feature phones and in areas with weak data.
- Corporate-focused banks (Citibank, some of the smaller entrants) often skip public USSD entirely because their clients use portals or relationship managers.
A Quick but Important Safety Note
SWIFT codes and USSD short codes can change without much public notice. Banks and mobile networks update them behind the scenes, and older numbers sometimes keep circulating long after they’ve been retired.
Before you send any international transfer, take thirty seconds to double-check the exact SWIFT code on your bank’s official app, internet banking portal, or by calling them. One wrong character is enough to delay the money or send it to the wrong place, and sorting that out can take days.
Same advice applies to USSD codes. If the short code doesn’t work, don’t keep trying random ones. Just confirm with the bank.
It only takes a moment, and it can save you a lot of headache.
Bottom Line
Kenya’s banking sector has consolidated. That is why outdated codes for NIC, Chase, and a few others still linger online. Treat any published list, including this one, as a carefully checked starting point rather than gospel. For time-sensitive or high-value international transfers, the safest step is always the same: confirm the exact SWIFT code directly with the receiving bank or through your own bank’s verified channels before you hit send.
Related:Tier 1, 2, and 3 Banks in Kenya (2026 List)
—International Banks in Kenya 2026: Full List of Foreign-Owned Banks
Frequently Asked Questions
Do I need a SWIFT code for M-PESA or Pesalink transfers?
No. SWIFT codes are only for international wire transfers. Domestic transfers between Kenyan banks or to mobile money use Pesalink or KEPSS instead, and neither requires a SWIFT code.
What’s the difference between an 8-character and 11-character SWIFT code?
The 8-character version routes to a bank’s main processing centre and works for most transfers. The 11-character version adds a branch identifier, usually XXX by default, and some international forms require the longer format even when the branch code doesn’t matter.
Why do some banks not have a USSD code listed?
Corporate-focused banks like Citibank often skip public USSD entirely because their clients use dedicated portals or relationship managers instead. A few smaller banks also route customers through their mobile apps rather than maintaining a short code.
How often do SWIFT and USSD codes change?
There’s no fixed schedule. Banks and mobile networks update these behind the scenes, sometimes after mergers, rebrands, or system upgrades, and old codes can keep circulating online long after they stop working.
What happens if I use the wrong SWIFT code?
The transfer can be delayed, rejected, or in rare cases routed to the wrong branch. Recovering misrouted funds can take days and sometimes involves extra fees, which is why confirming the code directly with your bank before sending matters more than trusting any published list, including this one.
Primary sources: Central Bank of Kenya, Directory of Licensed Commercial Banks, official bank websites (especially Standard Chartered’s mobile banking page), and cross-checked SWIFT directories. Details can still shift, so verify when it matters.