15 banks · Verified SWIFT/BIC codes for inbound international wire transfers.
Kenya's commercial banking sector is the largest in East Africa and is regulated by the Central Bank of Kenya (CBK). The market currently has approximately 39 licensed commercial banks plus one mortgage finance company, ranging from continent-wide groups like KCB and Equity to specialist players and foreign branches. Kenya receives an estimated US$4.4 billion per year in formal remittances, making bank SWIFT codes critical infrastructure for the diaspora-to-Shilling flow.
To send an international wire to a Kenya bank, you give your sending bank three items: (1) the recipient bank's SWIFT code (8 or 11 characters); (2) the recipient's account number; (3) the full name of the account holder as registered with the bank.
The 8-character SWIFT code identifies the head office. 11-character codes ending in 'XXX' also identify the head office; codes ending in other sequences identify a specific branch. When in doubt, use the 8-character head-office code — the SWIFT system will route correctly.
Typical timing is 1 to 5 business days, depending on intermediary (correspondent) banks involved. Fees vary considerably: a SWIFT wire from a UK bank to an African bank typically costs £15-30 on the sending side plus an FX spread, while a mobile-first operator like Wise or LemFi can be materially cheaper for smaller amounts.
We currently list 15 commercial banks licensed by the Central Bank of Kenya (CBK). Each SWIFT/BIC code has been verified against two independent sources.
Yes. SWIFT (Society for Worldwide Interbank Financial Telecommunication) and BIC (Business Identifier Code) are two names for the same 8 or 11-character identifier standardised by ISO 9362.
Yes. The sending bank needs the SWIFT code to route the wire through the SWIFT network. You will also need the recipient's account number; some banks also request the bank's full physical address.
For smaller amounts to Kenya, operators such as Wise, LemFi, Sendwave, and TapTap Send typically offer a rate closer to mid-market and lower fees than a classic SWIFT bank wire. For very large amounts (above $50,000), a SWIFT wire from a bank usually remains the practical choice.