KCBLKENX11-character variant (head office):
KCBLKENXXXX| Bank code | Country | Location |
|---|---|---|
| KCBL | KE | NX |
| KCB | KE (Kenya) | Nairobi |
An 11-character variant like KCBLKENXXXX also indicates the head office — the trailing 'XXX' is the default. Codes ending in different sequences (e.g. 'KCBLKENX001') refer to specific branches.
KCB Bank Kenya is the flagship subsidiary of KCB Group, East Africa's largest banking group by assets. KCB traces its origins to 1896 as the National Bank of India and was incorporated in its current form in 1970. The bank operates more than 200 branches in Kenya alone, plus group operations in Uganda, Tanzania, Rwanda, Burundi, South Sudan, the Democratic Republic of Congo, and Ethiopia. KCB is listed on the Nairobi Securities Exchange. For diaspora senders, the SWIFT code KCBLKENX identifies the head office at Kencom House on Moi Avenue, Nairobi. The 11-character form is KCBLKENXXXX; branch-specific codes use suffixes such as KCBLKENX005 or KCBLKENX017.
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SWIFT and BIC are two names for the same identifier: an 8 or 11-character code standardised by ISO 9362 that identifies a bank in the SWIFT payment network. For a wire to KCB, your sending bank needs this code (KCBLKENX) to route the payment message through correspondent banks to KCB Bank Kenya in Nairobi.
An IBAN, by contrast, identifies a specific bank account — not the institution. IBANs are mandatory in the European Economic Area, the UK, most of the Middle East, and several African countries (but Kenya does not use IBANs universally). For most wires to Kenya, you will supply SWIFT code KCBLKENX + the recipient's account number, not an IBAN.
UK sort codes (6 digits) and US routing numbers (9 digits) are domestic-only equivalents — they do not work for international wires. If a US-based sender wants to wire to KCB, they need the SWIFT code, not the US routing number of the correspondent bank (although their bank may use the routing number internally to route their side of the wire).
One final technical detail on the 11-character form: the last three characters identify a specific branch. When they read 'XXX' (as in KCBLKENXXXX), they conventionally designate the head office itself. Most international wires use either the 8-character form or the 11-character form with XXX; unless your recipient explicitly tells you otherwise, that is the right choice.
KCB Bank Kenya's SWIFT/BIC code is KCBLKENX. This 8-character code identifies the bank's Nairobi head office for international wire transfers.
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. You will see KCB's code referenced under either name on different financial platforms.
Yes. For an international wire to reach your KCB account, the sender needs SWIFT code KCBLKENX AND your account number. Some sending banks also request the recipient bank's full address (Kencom House, Floor 7, Moi Avenue, Nairobi).
Typically 1 to 5 business days. The timing depends on the intermediary (correspondent) banks between the sending bank and KCB. Wires from major global banks (HSBC, Barclays, JPMorgan, Citi) usually clear fastest.
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. See our Kenya inbound corridor comparison for side-by-side pricing.
Source: KCB's official website + Wise SWIFT directory. Last verified: 2026-06-04. SWIFT codes change rarely but always confirm with your bank before initiating a transfer. Educational only — not financial advice.