The Central Bank of Kenya (CBK) has released the average commercial banks’ lending rates as of July 2025, highlighting trends in credit costs across different categories.
According to a CBK notice published on September 9, the categories include overdrafts, personal and household loans, asset finance, SME loans, corporate loans, and mortgages.
Furthermore, the latest data shows differences in rates charged by lenders, with Citibank and Standard Chartered among the cheapest options.
On the other hand, Equity Bank and a group of mid-tier lenders are among the most expensive.
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Banks with Cheaper Loans
Citibank is the cheapest lender in the country according to CBK, offering overdrafts at 13.50%, personal loans at 14.75%, asset finance at 12.25%, SME loans at 13.00%, corporate loans at 11.50%, and mortgages at 10.75%.
Standard Chartered follows closely with overdrafts at 13.75%, personal loans at 15.00%, asset finance at 12.25%, SME loans at 13.00%, corporate loans at 11.50%, and mortgages also at 10.75%.
Co-operative Bank is next with overdrafts at 14.25%, personal loans at 15.50%, asset finance at 12.75%, SME loans at 13.50%, corporate loans at 12.00%, and mortgages at 11.25%.
Stanbic Bank and I&M Bank have identical rates, with overdrafts at 14.25%, personal loans at 15.50%, asset finance at 12.75%, SME loans at 13.50%, corporate loans at 12.00%, and mortgages at 11.25%.
KCB Bank and NIC Bank are next with overdrafts at 14.50%, personal loans at 15.75%, asset finance at 13.00%, SME loans at 13.75%, corporate loans at 12.25%, and mortgages at 11.50%.
Additionally, First Community Bank offers similar rates, posting overdrafts at 14.50%, personal loans at 15.75%, asset finance at 13.00%, SME loans at 13.75%, corporate loans at 12.25%, and mortgages at 11.50%.
Other affordable banks include Gulf African Bank, National Bank, and Diamond Trust Bank, all with mortgages at 11.75% and personal loans averaging 16.00%.
Barclays Bank has slightly higher charges with mortgages at 12.00% and personal loans at 16.00%.
Guardian Bank, Prime Bank, and UBA Kenya offer mortgages at 12.00% and personal loans at 16.25% rates.
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CBK Lists Banks With Most Expensive Loans
Equity Bank tops the list of lenders with the most expensive loans, with overdrafts at 15.50%, personal loans at 16.75%, asset finance at 14.00%, SME loans at 14.75%, corporate loans at 13.25%, and mortgages at 12.50%.
Family Bank has also set higher rates with overdrafts at 15.25%, personal loans at 16.50%, asset finance at 13.75%, SME loans at 14.50%, corporate loans at 13.00%, and mortgages at 12.25%.
Sidian Bank is charging overdrafts at 15.25%, personal loans at 16.50%, asset finance at 13.75%, SME loans at 14.50%, corporate loans at 13.00%, and mortgages at 12.25%.
Middle East Bank has maintained similar rates with overdrafts at 15.25%, personal loans at 16.50%, asset finance at 13.75%, SME loans at 14.50%, corporate loans at 13.00%, and mortgages at 12.25%.
Chase Bank has published the following interest rates: overdrafts at 15.00%, personal loans at 16.25%, asset finance at 13.75%, SME loans at 14.50%, corporate loans at 13.00%, and mortgages at 12.25%.
Cheapest Banks – July 2025 (CBK Data)
| Rank | Bank | Mortgage Rate | Personal Loan Rate | Overdraft | Corporate Loan Rate |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Citibank | 10.75% | 14.75% | 13.50% | 11.50% |
| 2 | Standard Chartered Bank | 10.75% | 15.00% | 13.75% | 11.50% |
| 3 | Co-operative Bank | 11.25% | 15.50% | 14.25% | 12.00% |
| 4 | Stanbic Bank | 11.25% | 15.50% | 14.25% | 12.00% |
| 5 | I&M Bank | 11.25% | 15.50% | 14.25% | 12.00% |
| 6 | KCB Bank | 11.50% | 15.75% | 14.50% | 12.25% |
| 7 | NIC Bank | 11.50% | 15.75% | 14.50% | 12.25% |
| 8 | First Community Bank | 11.50% | 15.75% | 14.50% | 12.25% |
| 9 | Gulf African Bank | 11.75% | 16.00% | 14.75% | 12.50% |
| 10 | National Bank | 11.75% | 16.00% | 14.75% | 12.50% |
| 11 | Diamond Trust Bank | 11.75% | 16.00% | 14.75% | 12.50% |
| 12 | Barclays Bank | 12.00% | 16.00% | 14.75% | 12.75% |
| 13 | Guardian Bank | 12.00% | 16.25% | 15.00% | 12.75% |
| 14 | Prime Bank | 12.00% | 16.25% | 15.00% | 12.75% |
| 15 | UBA Kenya | 12.00% | 16.25% | 15.00% | 12.75% |
Most Expensive Banks – July 2025 (CBK Data)
| Rank | Bank | Mortgage Rate | Personal Loan Rate | Overdraft | Corporate Loan Rate |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Equity Bank | 12.50% | 16.75% | 15.50% | 13.25% |
| 2 | Bank of Africa | 12.50% | 16.50% | 15.25% | 13.25% |
| 3 | Family Bank | 12.25% | 16.50% | 15.25% | 13.00% |
| 4 | Sidian Bank | 12.25% | 16.50% | 15.25% | 13.00% |
| 5 | Middle East Bank | 12.25% | 16.50% | 15.25% | 13.00% |
| 6 | Chase Bank | 12.25% | 16.25% | 15.00% | 13.00% |
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