Top 10 Banks With the Cheapest Loans - CBK Report

‍_‍The Central Bank of Kenya (CBK) has released data on the banks in the country and their loan interest rates recorded for December 2025. The average loan interest rate for December 2025 was 14.82%, as compared to 14.88% recorded in November 2025.

From the data released on Friday, January 21, 2026, Citibank N.A Kenya had the lowest interest rate of 10.17%, followed by Stanbic Bank Kenya Limited at 11.80%.

Other banks with the cheapest loans were Standard Chartered Bank Kenya Limited (12.69%), Ecobank Kenya Limited (12.77%), Habib Bank A.G Zurich (13.41%), Guardian Bank Limited (13.52%), ABSA Bank Kenya PLC (13.75%), and Consolidated Bank of Kenya Limited (14%).

Bank of Baroda (Kenya) Limited (14.04%) and Gulf African Bank Limited (14.31%) were also among the banks offering the cheapest loans.

Conversely, Access Bank has the most expensive loans, with its interest rate recorded at 19.55%.

The other five banks that had the most expensive loans were Sidian Bank Limited (17.26%), SBM Bank Kenya Limited (17.75%), HFC (17.94%), Bank of Africa Kenya Limited (18.39%), and Credit Bank (18.87%).

Below is the List of Banks and Their Loan Interest Rates for December 2025

1. Citibank N.A Kenya – 10.17%
2. Stanbic Bank Kenya Limited – 11.80%
3. Standard Chartered Bank Kenya Limited – 12.69%
4. Ecobank Kenya Limited – 12.77%
5. Habib Bank A.G Zurich – 13.41%
6. Guardian Bank Limited – 13.52%
7. ABSA Bank Kenya PLC – 13.75%
8. Consolidated Bank of Kenya Limited – 14%
9. Bank of Baroda (Kenya) Limited – 14.04%
10. Gulf African Bank Limited – 14.31%
11. Prime Bank Limited – 14.41%
12. Paramount Bank Limited – 14.52%
13. Bank of India – 14.53%
14. Victoria Commercial Bank PLC – 14.54%
15. Diamond Trust Bank Kenya Limited – 14.56%
16. Guaranty Trust Bank (K) Ltd – 14.76%
17. I&M Bank Limited – 14.77%
18. Premier Bank Kenya Limited – 14.84%
19. Equity Bank Kenya Limited – 14.96%
20. M-Oriental Bank Limited – 15%
21. KCB Bank Kenya Limited – 15.24%
22. NCBA Bank Kenya PLC – 15.54%
23. Co-operative Bank of Kenya Limited – 15.54%
24. Commercial International Bank (CIB) Kenya Limited – 15.70%
25. National Bank of Kenya Limited – 15.70%
26. African Banking Corporation Limited – 15.78%
27. UBA Kenya Bank Limited – 15.87%
28. Family Bank Limited – 16%
29. Kingdom Bank Limited – 16.12%
30. DIB Bank Kenya Limited – 16.54%
31. Development Bank of Kenya Limited – 16.62%
32. Middle East Bank (K) Limited – 17.07%
33. Sidian Bank Limited – 17.26%
34. SBM Bank Kenya Limited – 17.75%
35. HFC – 17.94%
36. Bank of Africa Kenya Limited – 18.39%
37. Credit Bank PLC – 18.87%
38. Access Bank (Kenya) PLC – 19.55%

Banks transitioned to KESONIA in 2025. KESONIA is a revised risk-based credit pricing model, which will guide how banks price loans.

It was introduced to improve transparency and consistency in loan pricing, replacing opaque internal reference rates that made it difficult for borrowers to understand how interest rates were set. 

By anchoring lending rates to KESONIA and adding a clearly defined risk premium based on the borrower, the CBK aims to make borrowing costs more predictable.

Interest Rates for Bank Deposits in December 2025

In December 2025, the average interest rate for bank deposits was 7.13%, with savers at the African Banking Corporation Limited and Credit Bank PLC enjoying the high interest rates at 11.65% and 11.34%, respectively.

1. Citibank N.A Kenya – 5.75%
2. Stanbic Bank Kenya Limited – 6.71%
3. Standard Chartered Bank Kenya Limited – 3.12%
4. Ecobank Kenya Limited – 7.43%
5. Habib Bank A.G Zurich – 6.63%
6. Guardian Bank Limited – 7.28%
7. ABSA Bank Kenya PLC – 7.35%
8. Consolidated Bank of Kenya Limited – 6.93%
9. Bank of Baroda (Kenya) Limited – 7.73%
10. Gulf African Bank Limited – 7.22%
11. Prime Bank Limited – 8.60%
12. Paramount Bank Limited – 9.54%
13. Bank of India – 7.85%
14. Victoria Commercial Bank PLC – 8.57%
15. Diamond Trust Bank Kenya Limited – 7.46%
16. Guaranty Trust Bank (K) Ltd – 7.51%
17. I&M Bank Limited – 7.52%
18. Premier Bank Kenya Limited – 5.23%
19. Equity Bank Kenya Limited – 6.93%
20. M-Oriental Bank Limited – 8.44%
21. KCB Bank Kenya Limited – 6.38%
22. NCBA Bank Kenya PLC – 5.36%
23. Co-operative Bank of Kenya Limited – 5.98%
24. Commercial International Bank (CIB) Kenya Limited – 8.20%
25. National Bank of Kenya Limited – 7.01%
26. African Banking Corporation Limited – 11.65%
27. UBA Kenya Bank Limited – 7.46%
28. Family Bank Limited – 8.55%
29. Kingdom Bank Limited – 9.53%
30. DIB Bank Kenya Limited – 6.81%
31. Development Bank of Kenya Limited – 9.93%
32. Middle East Bank (K) Limited – 9.47%
33. Sidian Bank Limited – 8.36%
34. SBM Bank Kenya Limited – 8.93%
35. HFC – 5.67%
36. Bank of Africa Kenya Limited – 8.04%
37. Credit Bank PLC – 11.34%
38. Access Bank (Kenya) PLC – 7.78%