NBKEKENX11-character variant (head office):
NBKEKENXXXXWhether funds come from abroad or another local account, here's how to receive — and what it costs.
Sender uses NBKEKENX + your account number.
Sender uses Wise, LemFi, or Sendwave to deposit into your account.
Receive into M-Pesa, then move to NBK if needed.
Kenyan banks use a bank code plus branch code; PesaLink moves funds bank-to-bank without going through M-Pesa.
Money in a Kenyan bank account can move to M-Pesa via Paybill or the bank app, and from M-Pesa back to the bank, usually instantly.
Rail operator: ipsl.co.ke
When you actually need a SWIFT code: only for receiving money from another country. PesaLink handles every domestic kenya bank-to-bank, bank-to-wallet, and wallet-to-bank transfer at near-instant speed. If the sender is in the same country, SWIFT isn't involved at all — they just need your bank codes + branch codes or phone number.
For inbound international flows, PesaLink also matters: most modern remittance operators (Wise, Sendwave, LemFi, WorldRemit, TapTap Send) terminate their payouts via this rail rather than via correspondent SWIFT relationships. That's how they deliver in minutes instead of days — and why their all-in cost can be a fraction of a classic SWIFT wire.
Cash pickup is the fourth node in the receiving graph: Western Union, MoneyGram, Ria, RemitOne. These remain expensive but are the only option in some last-mile situations (no bank account, no wallet, urgent cash need). Mobile money cash-out via an agent network is increasingly the cheaper alternative — see our country mobile-money fee page for current cash-out rates.
One practical tip: if you're expecting a payment from abroad, ask the sender to choose the destination based on speed and amount. Small frequent payments below US$1,000 are almost always cheaper via a remittance app to your wallet. Mid-size payments (US$1,000–10,000) work well to your bank account via the same apps. Genuinely large payments (above US$50,000) are usually only practical via a SWIFT wire, even though they're the most expensive per dollar at that band.
| Bank code | Country | Location |
|---|---|---|
| NBKE | KE | NX |
| NBK | KE (Kenya) | Nairobi |
An 11-character variant like NBKEKENXXXX also indicates the head office — the trailing 'XXX' is the default. Codes ending in different sequences (e.g. 'NBKEKENX001') refer to specific branches.
Check any SWIFT/BIC code is correctly formatted before a transfer.
vs KES (Kenyan Shilling)
National Bank of Kenya (NBK) was founded in 1968 as a state-owned commercial bank to provide banking services to Kenyan-owned businesses and was later listed on the Nairobi Securities Exchange. In 2019 KCB Group acquired a majority stake in NBK, integrating it as a subsidiary while maintaining the brand and SWIFT identity. NBK operates around 80 branches across Kenya with a particularly strong presence in upcountry markets. The SWIFT code NBKEKENX routes inbound wires to the Harambee Avenue head office in Nairobi; the long form is NBKEKENXXXX. Despite the KCB Group ownership, NBK retains its own SWIFT identifier and continues to operate under the NBK brand.
National Bank Building, Harambee Avenue, Nairobi
Map centred on Nairobi. Click "View on OpenStreetMap" below for precise location.
National Bank of Kenya — Kenya's commercial bank, one of the country's oldest institutions (founded 1968) — has the SWIFT/BIC code NBKEKENX. The 8-character base BIC NBKEKENX targets the Nairobi head office; the 11-character variant NBKEKENXXXX names that same head office explicitly. You only need it for receiving an INTERNATIONAL wire (from another country). For transfers from another Kenya account, you just use your account number plus the domestic rail (PesaLink).
Yes. Operators like WorldRemit, Sendwave, Afriex, and Flutterwave Send let a sender abroad deposit directly into M-Pesa without going through your NBK account. It's usually faster and cheaper than a SWIFT wire for smaller amounts. You can then move funds to NBK via PesaLink if needed.
Via PesaLink, which interconnects banks and wallets in real time. From the NBK app: add M-Pesa as a beneficiary with your phone number, and the transfer arrives instantly. See our Kenya mobile money fees page for the exact cost.
For amounts under ~US$5,000, a remittance app (Wise, LemFi, Sendwave) depositing direct to your NBK account is almost always cheaper than a classic SWIFT wire — lower fees and a rate closer to mid-market. For larger amounts, compare SWIFT vs app on our Kenya inbound transfer comparison.
Yes. NBK is connected to PesaLink, which enables near-instant transfers to other Kenya banks and to mobile money wallets (M-Pesa, Airtel Money, T-Kash). This is the infrastructure remittance apps use behind the scenes to deliver in real time.
Source: NBK'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.