CBAFKENX11-character variant (head office):
CBAFKENXXXXWhether funds come from abroad or another local account, here's how to receive — and what it costs.
Sender uses CBAFKENX + your account number.
Sender uses Wise, LemFi, or Sendwave to deposit into your account.
Receive into M-Pesa, then move to NCBA 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 |
|---|---|---|
| CBAF | KE | NX |
| NCBA | KE (Kenya) | Nairobi |
An 11-character variant like CBAFKENXXXX also indicates the head office — the trailing 'XXX' is the default. Codes ending in different sequences (e.g. 'CBAFKENX001') refer to specific branches.
Check any SWIFT/BIC code is correctly formatted before a transfer.
vs KES (Kenyan Shilling)
NCBA Bank Kenya was formed in 2019 from the merger of NIC Bank and Commercial Bank of Africa (CBA), creating one of Kenya's largest tier-1 banks by assets. The legacy bank-code prefix CBAF (from Commercial Bank of Africa) is retained in the SWIFT code CBAFKENX, even after the rebrand — a common pattern at recently-merged banks since SWIFT-network identifier changes are administratively expensive. NCBA operates around 100 branches in Kenya plus subsidiaries in Uganda, Tanzania, Rwanda, and Côte d'Ivoire. The bank is best known for its M-Shwari partnership with Safaricom, which provides mobile-money savings and loan products integrated with M-Pesa. Long form: CBAFKENXXXX.
NCBA Centre, Mara and Ragati Road, Upper Hill, Nairobi
Map centred on Nairobi. Click "View on OpenStreetMap" below for precise location.
NCBA Bank Kenya — Kenya's commercial bank, a newer-generation institution (licensed 2019) — has the SWIFT/BIC code CBAFKENX. The 8-character base BIC CBAFKENX targets the Nairobi head office; the 11-character variant CBAFKENXXXX 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 NCBA account. It's usually faster and cheaper than a SWIFT wire for smaller amounts. You can then move funds to NCBA via PesaLink if needed.
Via PesaLink, which interconnects banks and wallets in real time. From the NCBA 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 NCBA 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. NCBA 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: NCBA'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.