CBK Publishes List of Banks Offering Cheapest Loans

The Central Bank of Kenya (CBK) has released its latest data on the average interest rates of commercial banks for August 2025.

The report, released on Tuesday, September 30, shows a wide range in lending and deposit rates, with some banks offering highly competitive terms while others continue to charge significantly above the market average.

Overall, the industry’s average lending rate was 15.24%, while the average deposit rate was 7.24%.

The figures detail the differences in pricing strategies among Kenya’s lenders.

Also Read: List of Banks with Cheapest and Most Expensive Loans – CBK

CBK List of Banks With the Cheapest Banks

Citibank N.A. Kenya is the most affordable lender, with an average lending rate of 10.52 percent as of August 2025.

This rate is nearly five percentage points below the market average, offering a considerable advantage to corporate clients and high-value borrowers, who form Citibank’s primary customer base.

On the other hand, Stanbic Bank Kenya ranked second with an average rate of 11.94 percent, while Standard Chartered Bank Kenya came in third at 12.33 percent.

Guaranty Trust Bank (GTBank) and Ecobank rounded out the top five cheapest lenders, with rates of 12.91 percent and 13.44 percent, respectively.

On the deposit side, Stanbic also stood out for savers, offering the highest average return of 7.70 percent. Citibank paid 7.56 percent, while Gulf African Bank, Prime Bank, and Standard Chartered all posted 7.50 percent, offering competitive choices for depositors seeking to grow their savings.

Also Read: CBK Reveals Cheapest and Expensive Bank Loans, Top Employers for Jobseekers, and US Investors’ Pullback

Banks With the Most Expensive Loans

On the other hand, borrowers at Credit Bank and Access Bank (Kenya) PLC faced the highest costs.

Credit Bank had the highest average lending rate at 19.87 percent, while Access Bank was close behind at 19.52 percent. These figures are nearly double what Citibank charged, showing the difference in the credit market.

Middle East Bank, Commercial International Bank (CIB) Kenya, and SMEP Microfinance Bank also ranked among the most expensive, with lending rates averaging above 18.70 percent in August.

For many small businesses and individual borrowers, these high costs could limit access to credit and increase the risk of default.

Deposit rates at the expensive lenders were less attractive, with some banks paying under 7 percent, making them less competitive for savers.

Smaller and regional banks often price loans higher to offset perceived risks, limited capital bases, and narrower customer pools.

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