SWIFT/BIC codes in Kenya

Kenya: banks and their SWIFT/BIC codes

Here you will find the SWIFT/BIC codes of 82 banks in Kenya, 166 codes in all. You will need a SWIFT/BIC code mostly when making payments across borders and for payments in a foreign currency.

Each bank has its own page showing the head office code and, where available, codes for branches and departments. Further down we explain how codes from Kenya are built, how to send money there at a fair price and what to check before you pay.

How reliable is this list?

The most reliable source for a SWIFT code is the bank details provided by the recipient. An incorrect BIC may lead to delays, a returned payment or additional charges, so compare it with the list on this page.

The directory on GoldexPay draws on public sources. Institutions reorganise, change names and retire codes – a directory can be a step behind. For any payment of any size, check the code with the recipient. GoldexPay is not a bank and has no link to the banks in this list.

Fraudsters often use fake invoices with changed bank details from what looks like a familiar address. Before paying, verify a change of bank details by phone, using a number you already had.

The structure of a Kenya SWIFT/BIC code

Bank identifier codes follow one international format: eight characters. The first four letters identify the bank, the fifth and sixth characters are the country code and the next two give the location.

Whatever the bank, all Kenya codes have the same country code in positions five and six. A code with other letters in that position belong to another country.

The long version adds three characters for a branch, where XXX means the head office. Choose a branch code just if the recipient explicitly gives you one.

What a transfer to Kenya really costs

What you pay for a transfer to Kenya is made up of more than one component – not only the fee you see. There is the transfer fee, sometimes charges from intermediary banks and, above all, the exchange rate markup if the money is converted.

Most of the cost usually sits in the exchange rate: banks convert at a rate with a margin built in. Compare the bank’s rate against the mid-market rate that you find on financial sites; the gap is what conversion costs you.

For a lot of currency pairs, a transfer service turns out to be cheaper than a bank, mainly because of the rate. Before your next transfer to Kenya, it is worth to compare what arrives on GoldexPay rather than accepting the first rate you see.

International payments to Kenya and the BIC

Since Kenya is outside SEPA, a transfer from abroad is usually sent through SWIFT. That means you always need the BIC of the receiving bank, together with the account number or IBAN.

Not all countries use IBAN numbers; in that case the local account number is used instead. The recipient’s bank usually provides a list of required details for incoming international payments. SWIFT payments can pass through one or more intermediary banks and fees can be taken along the way.

How long does a transfer to Kenya take?

How fast money arrives in Kenya is determined by a few things: the currency, the number of banks in between, cut-off times and differences in time zone. Public holidays in Kenya or in the sending country add extra days.

If a transfer is late, the sender should contact the sending bank for a trace; only the sending side can start an official trace. Save the payment confirmation until the recipient confirms – you will need it if something goes wrong.

National Bank of Kenya LTD. and its SWIFT codes

Of the 82 banks in Kenya, National Bank of Kenya LTD. has the most SWIFT codes. Its main office has NBKEKENXXXX and that code covers most payments.

Many codes usually reflects that the bank registers branches and departments separately, not necessarily that the bank is the biggest in the country. Unless a branch code is given, NBKEKENXXXX is fine for a payment to National Bank of Kenya LTD..

Getting paid from abroad into an account in Kenya

For a transfer from abroad in Kenya, the sender has to have not just the BIC. That means: your full name exactly as it appears on the account, your account number or IBAN, the SWIFT/BIC code of your bank and usually your address.

Look up the bank in the list above. Certain banks also ask for your bank’s address; it does no harm to include it.

The amount you receive is often less than what was sent. Correspondent banks can take a fee, and if the money is converted, an exchange rate margin comes on top. On invoices, agree who bears the costs, so nobody is left short.