The Central Bank of Kenya (CBK) has published commercial banks’ lending and deposit rates for January 2026, ranking lenders from the cheapest to the most expensive regarding loan pricing.
According to the CBK notice published on February 26, average lending rates across the banking sector stood at about 14.8 per cent in January 2026, reflecting a slight decline from previous months.
Among the banks with the lowest lending rates are Citibank and Standard Chartered, which posted rates slightly above 10 per cent, making them one of the most affordable lenders in the market.
However, Credit Bank PLC was among the most expensive banks with lending rates close to 19%.
Other major lenders, including KCB Bank Kenya Limited, Equity Bank Kenya Limited, and Co-operative Bank of Kenya Limited, maintained lending rates largely within the mid-range of 15 to 18 %.
CBK Ranks Banks With the Cheapest Loan Rates for 2026
Citibank is the cheapest lender in the country, according to CBK, offering a personal loan at 10.17%. This makes it the most affordable lender in the country.
Also Read: Banks Slash Loan Interest Rates After CBK Move
Stanbic Bank follows closely at 11.80 %. Standard Chartered Bank Kenya Limited at 12.69% and Ecobank Kenya Limited at 12.77% loan rate.
Habib Bank A.G. Zurich is charging 13.41% on personal rates, while Guardian Bank Limited is charging 13.52%.
Additionally, ABSA Bank Kenya PLC follows at 13.75%, and Bank of Baroda (Kenya) Limited is slightly higher at 14.00%.
For individuals who intend to deposit, Citibank NA Kenya offers a deposit rate of 5.05%; Stanbic Bank Kenya Limited, 6.55%; Standard Chartered Bank Kenya Limited, 6.75%; and Ecobank Kenya Limited, 6.63%.
Banks With the Most Expensive Loan Rates
Access Bank (Kenya) PLC tops the list with a lending rate of 19.07% and a loan deposit rate of 11.36%, making it the most expensive bank to borrow from in January 2026.
Other banks with high borrowing costs include Credit Bank PLC at 18.77%, DIB Bank Kenya Limited at 16.72%, HFC Limited at16.64%, and Middle East Bank (Kenya) Limited at 16.64%.
Meanwhile, for depositors, Credit Bank PLC offers 11.65%, DIB Bank Kenya Limited offers 10.08%, HFC Limited offers 9.94%, and Middle East Bank (Kenya) Limited offers 9.93%.
Also Read: CBK Raises Alarm Over New Trend Involving Kenya Shillings
CBK Data Analysis For January 2026
| Bank Name | Lending Interest Rate (%) | Deposit Interest Rate (%) |
| Stanbic Bank Kenya Limited | 10.85 | 6.55 |
| Habib Bank AG Zurich | 11.80 | 6.75 |
| Guardian Bank Limited | 11.92 | 6.63 |
| ABSA Bank Kenya PLC | 12.03 | 6.75 |
| Citibank NA Kenya | 12.39 | 5.05 |
| Ecobank Kenya Limited | 12.48 | 6.63 |
| Standard Chartered Bank Kenya | 13.03 | 6.75 |
| Bank of Baroda (Kenya) Ltd | 13.52 | 6.41 |
| Prime Bank Limited | 13.90 | 6.04 |
| Consolidated Bank of Kenya Ltd | 14.04 | 6.93 |
Most Expensive Banks
| Bank Name | Lending Interest Rate (%) | Deposit Interest Rate (%) |
| Access Bank (Kenya) PLC | 19.07 | 11.36 |
| Credit Bank PLC | 18.77 | 11.65 |
| Development Bank of Kenya Ltd | 17.85 | 11.16 |
| DIB Bank Kenya Limited | 16.72 | 10.08 |
| HFC Limited | 16.64 | 9.94 |
| Middle East Bank (K) Limited | 16.64 | 9.93 |
| Co-operative Bank of Kenya Ltd | 16.00 | 9.48 |
| Sidian Bank Limited | 16.00 | 9.43 |
| Kingdom Bank Limited | 15.99 | 9.47 |
| USA Kenya Bank Limited | 15.98 | 9.45 |
Follow our WhatsApp Channel and X Account for real-time news updates.
