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The Central Bank of Kenya (CBK) has announced the average commercial bank lending interest rates for March 2025.
In a notice on April 2, CBK said the overall average lending rate is 15.77 per cent, down from 16.41 per cent in February 2025.
Leading the list with the highest average lending interest rate is Middle East Bank (K) Limited, which recorded the highest lending rate at 20.63%.
This was followed closely by Access Bank (Kenya) PLC at 20.50% and Commercial International Bank (CIB) Kenya Limited, which posted 19.64%.
Other banks charging higher-than-average rates include Credit Bank Limited (19.49%), HFC Limited (18.92%), SPM Bank Kenya Limited (18.72%), Sidian Bank Limited (18.63%), and UBA Kenya Bank Limited (17.98%).
Also in the upper tier are Bank of Africa Kenya Limited (17.90%), I&M Bank Limited (17.60%), African Banking Corporation Limited (17.54%), M-Oriental Bank Limited (17.36%), DIB Bank Kenya Limited (17.07%), Prime Bank Limited (16.94%), Family Bank Limited (16.44%), and NCBA Bank Kenya PLC (16.42%).
Development Bank of Kenya Limited (16.31%), KCB Bank Kenya Limited (16.18%), Diamond Trust Bank Kenya Limited (16.12%), Co-operative Bank of Kenya Limited (16.08%), and National Bank of Kenya Limited (16.05%) also fall within the higher spectrum of lending interest rates.
Banks with lowest loan rates
On the opposite end, Citibank N.A Kenya offered the lowest rate at 11.14%, followed by Stanbic Bank Kenya Limited (12.76%), Consolidated Bank of Kenya Limited (13.31%), Ecobank Kenya Limited (13.82%), and Guardian Bank Limited (13.94%).
Other banks with relatively lower rates included Standard Chartered Bank Kenya Limited (14.07%), Kingdom Bank Limited (14.42%), Paramount Bank Limited (14.69%), Equity Bank Kenya Limited (14.88%), and Premier Bank Kenya Limited (15.03%).
Completing the list are Gulf African Bank Limited (15.21%), Habib Bank A.G Zurich (15.24%), Bank of India (15.34%), Bank of Baroda (Kenya) Limited (15.65%), Guaranty Trust Bank (K) Ltd (15.71%), Victoria Commercial Bank PLC (15.74%), and ABSA Bank Kenya PLC, which posted 15.94%.
CBK Deposit Rates
On the other hand, Credit Bank has the highest deposit rate of March 2025 at 13.32%, followed by African Banking Corporation at 13.31%, I&M Bank at 12.00%, Development Bank at 11.92%, and Kingdom Bank at 11.57%.
CIB Kenya posted 11.56%, while Bank of Baroda and Prime Bank both recorded a rate of 11.24%. Paramount Bank came in at 11.01%, Sidian Bank at 11.06%, and DIB Bank at 10.84%.
Also Read: CBK Explains Proposal for Fair Bank Loan Rates
Also featuring among the top tier were Bank of India (10.75%), Equity Bank (10.76%), and Access Bank at 10.51%. Victoria Commercial Bank posted 10.48%, Gulf African Bank stood at 9.23%, followed by Ecobank Kenya (9.18%),
Absa Bank recorded a rate of (9.60%), Bank of Africa (9.87%), Guaranty Trust Bank (8.90%), Guardian Bank (8.77%), and KCB Bank (8.70%).
Further down the list, Diamond Trust Bank posted 8.52%, National Bank 8.42%, and Habib Bank AG Zurich 8.62%.
Co-operative Bank stood at 7.68%, NCBA Bank at 7.81%, Family Bank at 7.44%, and Stanbic Bank at 7.42%. Consolidated Bank recorded 7.29%, SBM Bank at 7.22%, and Access Bank at 6.97%.
Among the banks with the lowest deposit rates were Citibank at 6.47%, Standard Chartered Bank at 3.26%, and Premier Bank with the lowest rate at 3.11%.
Banks with lowest lending interest rates as of March 2025
| Bank | March 2025 Lending Interest Rates | March 2025 Deposit Interest Rates |
| Citibank N.A Kenya | 11.14 | 6.47 |
| Stanbic Bank Kenya Limited | 12.76 | 7.42 |
| Consolidated Bank of Kenya Limited | 13.31 | 7.29 |
| Ecobank Kenya Limited | 13.82 | 9.18 |
| Guardian Bank Limited | 13.94 | 8.77 |
| Standard Chartered Bank Kenya Limited | 14.07 | 3.26 |
| Kingdom Bank Limited | 14.42 | 11.57 |
| Paramount Bank Limited | 14.69 | 11.01 |
| Equity Bank Kenya Limited | 14.88 | 10.76 |
| Premier Bank Kenya Limited | 15.03 | 3.11 |
| Gulf African Bank Limited | 15.21 | 9.23 |
| Habib Bank A.G Zurich | 15.24 | 8.62 |
| Bank of India | 15.34 | 10.75 |
| Bank of Baroda (Kenya) Limited | 15.65 | 11.24 |
| Guaranty Trust Bank (K) Ltd | 15.71 | 8.90 |
| Victoria Commercial Bank PLC | 15.74 | 10.48 |
| Absa Bank Kenya PLC | 15.94 | 9.60 |
| National Bank of Kenya Limited | 16.05 | 8.42 |
| Co-operative Bank of Kenya Limited | 16.08 | 7.68 |
| Diamond Trust Bank Kenya Limited | 16.12 | 8.52 |
| KCB Bank Kenya Limited | 16.18 | 8.70 |
| Development Bank of Kenya Limited | 16.31 | 11.92 |
| NCBA Bank Kenya PLC | 16.42 | 7.81 |
| Family Bank Limited | 16.44 | 7.44 |
Also Read: Standoff as Banks Completely Reject CBK Proposal on Interest Rates on Loans
CBK Lowers Interest Rates on Loans Again
The Central Bank of Kenya in April lowered the Central Bank Rate (CBR) again following a Monetary Policy Committee (MPC) meeting.
The MPC on Tuesday, April 8, met and reviewed the outcomes of its previous decisions and measures implemented to anchor inflationary expectations and maintain exchange rate stability.
In a press release, the Central Bank announced that the committee lowered the CBR by 75 basis points to 10.00 percent from 10.75 percent, the lowest the benchmark has been since May 2023.
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