The primary classification of banks in Kenya is by ownership. Some banks belong to local people/companies while others belong to foreign individuals or organizations. Another general classification of banks is by nature, that is, microfinance banks and commercial banks. The Central Bank of Kenya which governs banks further classifies commercial banks based on their assets. Tier 1 banks are large banks that have hundreds of billions in assets and are not likely to collapse financially. They are the top banks in Kenya. Tier 2 banks are medium-sized banks while tier 3 consists of small banks. Kenya has a large number of banks. In 2016, this number stood at 44. However, some banks like Chase Bank, Imperial Bank, and Dubai Bank experienced issues that led to the closure of some of the banks and the intervention of the Central Bank. Microfinance banks, on the other hand, remain underrepresented with only a few successful ones. We compiled a list of banks in Kenya based on size, market share, and assets. Top Banks in Kenya List.
Here are commercial banks in Kenya based on the Central Bank ranking of banks in Kenya and the year they started operation in Kenya.
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Here is a list of top banks in Kenya and the year they were started
Classification of Commercial Banks Tier 1
Kenya Commercial Bank 1896
Equity Bank 1984 (originally)
Barclays Bank 1916
Standard Chartered Bank 1911
Cooperative Bank 1872
Commercial Bank of Africa 1962 Diamond Trust Bank 1945 Tier 2 Bank of Africa Kenya 2004Eco Bank 2005Family Bank 1984 CFC Stanbic Bank 2007NIC Bank 1959I&M Bank 1974Housing Finance Bank 2010National Bank 1968Bank of Baroda 1953Bank of India 1953 Tier 3 African Banking Corporation (ABC) 1984Jamii Bora Bank 1999Paramount Universal Bank 1993Citibank N.A Kenya 1974Consolidated Bank 1989Credit Bank 1986Development Bank 1963Fidelity Bank 1988Guardian Bank 1992Transnational Bank 1984Oriental Commercial Bank 2002Gulf Africa Bank 2006First Community Bank 2007Equatorial Bank 1983Giro Commercial Bank 1993Habib Bank AG Zurich 1978Sidian Bank 1985United Bank of Africa (UBA) 2009Habib Bank Ltd. 1946Middle East Bank 1981Victoria Commercial Bank 1987Charterhouse Bank (under statutory management 1996).Some of these banks started as small ending businesses while others had different names at the beginning.The list includes Housing Finance which is classified as a commercial bank but is a mortgage finance institution.The government is a shareholder involved in the activities of six of the banks listed […]
