What UBA Kenya does

UBA Kenya Bank Limited is a Nairobi-headquartered commercial bank and an 80.6%-owned subsidiary of United Bank for Africa PLC, the Nigeria-listed pan-African banking group. Operating in Kenya since October 2009 as a greenfield entry, the bank is licensed and regulated by the Central Bank of Kenya and serves retail/individual customers, SMEs, large corporates and multinationals, and diaspora/remittance senders. Distribution is hybrid: a small physical network of five branches (two in Nairobi, one each in Mombasa and Nakuru) plus an ATM/POS footprint, complemented by digital self-service channels — a mobile app, USSD (*467#), internet banking, and the AI chatbot "Leo" available on WhatsApp, Facebook Messenger and Instagram. Corporate and trade clients are served through dedicated relationship managers and specialized trade-finance/treasury teams.

The product architecture spans personal banking (savings/current accounts, debit/prepaid/personalised cards, personal and asset-finance loans, check-off loans for government employees), corporate and SME banking (transactional banking, trade finance, treasury products, working-capital and long-term lending), and remittances via Western Union, MoneyGram and the proprietary UBA Remit service. Specialized digital products include UBA Pay (Safaricom M-PESA Paybill/Till integration with real-time settlement), the Shoppers Mall e-commerce marketplace (logistics powered by DHL), and UBA Learn (an education platform powered by Roducate). The bank holds ISO/IEC 27001:2022 and PCI-DSS certifications and references GDPR compliance.

Revenue mechanics are those of a universal bank: net interest income on loans and advances, transaction and processing fees (transfers, cards, ATM, digital), remittance fees, treasury/FX and money-market income, trade-finance fees (LCs, guarantees, import/export finance), and marketplace commission from Shoppers Mall. Pricing is disclosed via a public tariff guide — e.g., tiered bank-to-M-PESA transfer charges (KES 11–67), a KES 300/month business current account, personal unsecured loans up to KES 5M at 13% p.a. over 60 months, and AfCFTA-linked SME working-capital/asset loans up to USD 150,000. The Kenyan entity operates within UBA Group's network of 20 African countries plus the UK, USA, France and UAE (≈25,000 staff and ≈45 million customers group-wide), and has stated ambition to become a Systemically Important Bank in Kenya.

Name

UBA Kenya

Legal name

UBA Kenya Bank Limited

Website

https://ubakenya.com

Company type

Private

Founded year

2009

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

101–250 employees

Short description

UBA Kenya is a Central Bank of Kenya–regulated commercial bank and subsidiary of Nigeria's United Bank for Africa, serving retail, SME, corporate and diaspora customers through five branches and digital channels including mobile, USSD, and the Leo AI chatbot.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Commercial Banking

NAICS

Commercial Banking (52211), Commercial Banking (522110)

SIC

National Commercial Banks (6021), State Commercial Banks (6022)

akta.pro primary industry

Account & Balance Services (Operating accounts, statements, eBAM) (FSABAIAD)

akta.pro secondary industry

Multi-Currency Accounts, Wallets & IBAN Services (FSAMAIAG)

Keywords

• Retail banking services
• Commercial banking
• Trade finance
• SME lending
• Digital banking

Headquarters

HQ city

Nairobi

HQ country

Kenya

HQ region

Africa

Offices5 records

Markets served

GTM type

B2B and B2C

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Operations, Technology or R&D, Infrastructure, Marketing or Sales, Others

Revenue model

1. Interest Income: Revenue from interest earned on loans and advances to customers, including personal loans, mortgages, asset finance, and corporate credit facilities
2. Transaction and Processing Fees: Fees charged for banking transactions including money transfers, ATM withdrawals, card transactions, and digital banking services
3. International Money Transfer Services: Revenue from remittance services including UBA Remit, Western Union, and MoneyGram transactions
4. Treasury Products: Foreign exchange trading, money market deposits, treasury bills investments, and spot currency transactions
5. E-commerce Platform (Shoppers Mall): Commission-based marketplace enabling merchants to sell products with integrated payment processing
6. Trade Finance Services: Letters of credit, documentary collections, bonds and guarantees, and import/export financing

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion2 records

Distribution channels10 records

Marketing channels9 records

Core offering

UBA Kenya is a commercial bank offering personal and corporate banking services across Kenya through 5 branches plus digital channels (mobile app, USSD *467#, internet banking and the Leo AI chatbot). Its core revenue-generating activities include deposit-taking accounts (savings and current), debit/prepaid/personalised cards, payment and remittance services (UBA Pay for M-Pesa, Western Union, MoneyGram, UBA Remit), lending products (personal loans, UBA Upgrade Package, Check Off Facility, asset finance, business overdrafts, green financing, and AfCFTA SME loans), corporate transactional banking, trade finance, treasury/FX, and an e-commerce marketplace (Shoppers Mall) plus a digital education platform (UBA Learn).

Product overview

UBA Kenya operates as a comprehensive financial services institution offering a platform-plus-channel architecture. The core product portfolio is divided into Personal Banking (accounts, cards, digital channels, loans, and remittances) and Corporate Banking (SME, transactional, trade finance, and treasury), supplemented by specialized products including UBA Pay (M-PESA integration), UBA Learn (digital education), and Shoppers Mall (e-commerce marketplace). Key digital channels include Mobile & Internet Banking, USSD (*467#), and Leo — an AI-powered chatbot available on WhatsApp, Facebook, and Instagram. Lending products span personal loans (Upgrade Package), SME/business loans, green financing, check-off loans for government employees, and AfCFTA-linked SME financing. Remittance services include Western Union, MoneyGram, and the proprietary UBA Remit service. All products are delivered through 5 branches in Kenya, a 24/7 Customer Fulfilment Centre, and digital-first self-service channels.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Brands

• UBA Pay: Integrated payment solution allowing users to receive payments directly into UBA account from M-PESA wallet via Safaricom Paybill or Till Number.
• UBA Learn
• Leo
• Shoppers Mall
• UBA ChapAa (Lipa Na UBA)

Products and services

• Personal Banking Comprehensive personal banking suite covering accounts (savings and current), digital banking channels, loans and payments, and money transfer services for individual retail customers.
• Corporate Banking Corporate banking suite addressing the needs of large corporates and multinationals, including transactional banking, trade finance, treasury products, and corporate account management.
• Savings Account Personal savings account with competitive interest rates designed for individual customers to deposit and grow funds over time.
• Current Account Personal current account providing demand deposit functionality with cheque access, direct debits, and electronic fund transfer capabilities for day-to-day banking needs.
• Business Current Account Business current account (KES 5,000 opening balance, nil operating balance, KES 300 monthly fee) with cheque access, online banking and cash-handling features for SMEs and other business customers.
• Debit, Prepaid and Personalised Cards Card portfolio including Debit Cards for everyday banking, Prepaid Cards internationally accepted at Visa, Mastercard, Kenswitch and Verve acceptance points, and Personalised Cards tailored to individual preferences.
• Money Transfer (Western Union, MoneyGram, UBA Remit) Comprehensive remittance service enabling international money transfers through Western Union, MoneyGram, UBA's own UBA Remit service (cross-African transfers), and international money transfer to other countries, covering both inbound and outbound transfers for individuals.
• UBA Remit Secure, quick, and cost-effective international funds transfer service allowing customers to fund UBA accounts from any location worldwide, with initial transaction maximum USD 2,000, USD 7,500 per transaction overall, and a 6-month cumulative limit of USD 50,000, with no charges to beneficiaries.
• SME Banking Banking solutions tailored for small and medium enterprises, offering no cash handling fees, unlimited withdrawals, online banking, loan facilities, overdrafts, and cheque books with flexible and convenient business transactions.
• Transactional Banking Payment and collection solutions including cash management (doorstep banking, teller implants), direct debits, direct deposits, RTGS, SWIFT transfers, bulk file upload, and mobile wallet transfers for business customers.
• Trade Finance Trade finance solutions including open account solutions (UBA Connect, AfriCash, Telegraphic Transfers), documentary collections, letters of credit, bonds and guarantees, post-import financing, and pre-export financing to support businesses expanding into new markets.
• Treasury Products Treasury offerings including foreign exchange spots (buying and selling foreign currency), money market deposits, and Treasury Bills for investment and liquidity management.
• Corporate Accounts Business and corporate current accounts for sole proprietors, partnerships, SMEs, private limited liability companies, public quoted companies, and multinationals, with demand deposit functionality and credit facility access.
• Short-Term Business Loan Business loan ideal for micro, small, and medium-sized enterprises with competitive rates, flexible repayment periods, and availability in multiple currencies.
• Long-Term Loans Long-term financing for large corporates, multinationals, and governments with repayment periods of up to 7 years, multi-jurisdiction availability, and flexibility to include bridge financing, syndications, and auxiliary benefits such as cash management and value-chain financing.
• Unsecured Short Term Overdraft Flexible short-term overdraft facility with a maximum limit of KES 2 million, maximum repayment period of 30 days, no security required, and fast approval with minimal documentation for UBA account holders with at least 1 month tenure and 12 months certified bank statements.
• Check Off Loan Facility Unsecured check-off loan accessible to government employees offering up to KES 5,000,000 with flexible repayment period of up to 72 months (6 years), with repayment deducted directly from salary.
• UBA Upgrade Package Comprehensive personal loan package offering borrowings up to KES 5,000,000 at 13% per annum payable in 60 months, Asset Finance Loans for vehicles (up to KES 5,000,000, 90% financing for new cars, 70% for pre-owned), flexible mortgages (up to KES 25,000,000 at 70% Forced Sale Value), and salary overdrafts (up to KES 300,000 or 50% of net salary).
• UBA Green Financing Loan Strategic financing solution enabling businesses to transition to solar and renewable energy infrastructure, covering up to 70% of system cost for healthcare, manufacturing, education, hospitality, agriculture enterprises, and EV infrastructure companies.
• UBA x AfCFTA SME Financing SME financing programme under the US$6 billion AfCFTA agreement, offering Working Capital Loans up to $150,000 in local currency for operational assets and equipment, and Asset Finance Loans and overdrafts up to $150,000 for business expansion.
• UBA Pay Integrated payment solution enabling businesses to receive M-PESA payments directly into UBA accounts via Safaricom Paybill or Till Number, with real-time fund transfers, Hakikisha transaction verification, flexible settlement (daily, weekly or monthly), zero bank charges on UBA-to-M-PESA transfers, multiple till management, STK Push integration, and SME financing access based on transaction history.
• Leo Chatbanking AI-powered chatbot providing conversational banking via WhatsApp (+254 799 919000), Facebook Messenger, and Instagram, enabling customers to check balances, transfer money, buy airtime, and perform banking tasks through natural language text interactions.
• Shoppers Mall UBA's e-commerce marketplace accessible via desktop and mobile, enabling merchants to create online stores, process payments via cards, account transfers, escrow and mobile money, with order fulfilment and logistics powered by DHL, SEO optimization, social media integration, and access to over 2.5 million UBA cardholders as potential customers.
• UBA Learn Digital education platform powered by Roducate, offering academic curricula (WAEC, NECO), continuous assessments, tests, financial education, and learning games for students aged 5-24 years, accessible via online, mobile app, and USSD (*919*33#) to help parents and teachers monitor student performance.
• Mobile Banking (UBA App) UBA-branded mobile application available on iOS and Android enabling customers to access accounts, perform transfers, manage cards, pay bills, and conduct 24/7 self-service banking.
• USSD Banking (*467#) USSD-based mobile banking service accessible via shortcode *467#, allowing customers to perform banking transactions using basic mobile phones without internet connectivity.

Quantifiable outcome

• 5 branches across Kenya serving retail, SME, and corporate customers
• +4 more outcomes

Named customers4 records

Segments5 records

Ideal customer profiles5 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Integration12 records

AI capability2 records

Feature4 records

Partnerships

Eight partnerships are on record, tiered supporting, core and flagship.

• BeGreen AfricasupportingStrategic or Co-development Partner · 14 June 2024Entrepreneur workshop empowering young entrepreneurs in waste management through comprehensive business plans and innovative solutions.
• African Guarantee Fund (AGF)coreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 11 March 2024$100 million loan facility for SMEs and women-led businesses across 20 African countries. AGF provides portfolio guarantee of $50 million plus technical support for green financing initiatives.
• African Continental Free Trade Area (AfCFTA)flagshipStrategic or Co-development Partner · 26 June 2023$6 billion financing agreement over 3 years to support SMEs across Africa. UBA provides technical and financial solutions to eligible SMEs, focusing on agro-processing, pharmaceuticals, automotive, and transport/logistics sectors.
• UK GovernmentsupportingGTM or Marketing Partner · 9 March 2022Partnership with UK Government and other organizations in £20 million initiative to improve girls' access to education and employment in developing countries.
• Export Trading Group (ETG)coreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 15 July 2019USD 125 million syndicated financing agreement supporting agricultural supply chain operations across 40 countries, with UBA Kenya participating in the syndication.
• DHLsupportingStrategic or Co-development PartnerLogistics partnership for Shoppers Mall e-commerce platform enabling nationwide delivery of products sold through the marketplace.
• Safaricom (M-Pesa)coreTechnology or IntegrationIntegration of M-Pesa Paybill and Till Number with UBA Kenya through UBA Pay solution, enabling real-time fund transfers between M-Pesa wallets and UBA accounts.
• Tony Elumelu FoundationflagshipStrategic or Co-development PartnerPartnership to support African entrepreneurs through the TEF Entrepreneurship Program, providing seed capital and mentorship to SMEs across Africa.

Scale indicators11 records

Recent moves8 records

Expansion highlights6 records

Direct peers

• Equity Bank Kenya: One of Kenya's largest banks by customer base, with deep M-Pesa integration (Equitel) and dominant SME and retail presence. Directly competes with UBA Kenya for retail, SME, and digital banking customers across Kenya.
• KCB Bank Kenya: Kenya's largest bank by assets with extensive branch network, strong corporate and SME franchise, and digital banking (Vooma). Directly competes with UBA Kenya across all customer segments and is a major reference for the Kenyan banking market.
• NCBA Bank Kenya: Formed from merger of NIC and CBA, NCBA is a major Kenyan bank with strong corporate banking, asset finance, and digital banking (Loop). Comparable in size and product breadth to UBA Kenya's Kenyan operations.
• Co-operative Bank of Kenya: Major Kenyan bank focused on cooperative societies, SMEs, and retail customers with strong Sacco linkages. Competes directly with UBA Kenya in SME banking, savings accounts, and digital channels.
• Absa Bank Kenya: Subsidiary of Absa Group (South Africa), offering retail, corporate, and investment banking across Kenya. Comparable to UBA Kenya as a regional subsidiary of an African banking group with similar customer segments and digital offerings.
• Standard Chartered Bank Kenya: Kenyan subsidiary of Standard Chartered PLC focused on corporate, trade finance, and affluent retail banking. Competes with UBA Kenya in corporate banking, trade finance, treasury, and FX products.
• Stanbic Bank Kenya: Subsidiary of Standard Bank Group (South Africa), focused on corporate and investment banking with growing retail presence. Direct competitor in trade finance, transactional banking, and corporate lending for UBA Kenya.
• I&M Bank Kenya: Mid-sized Kenyan bank with retail, SME, and corporate banking offerings, plus a strong digital platform (I&M On the Go). Comparable scale and product breadth to UBA Kenya, competing in similar segments.
• Diamond Trust Bank Kenya: Kenyan bank with regional East African presence (Kenya, Uganda, Tanzania, Burundi), focused on retail, SME, and corporate banking. Comparable to UBA Kenya as a regional bank with cross-border ambitions and similar product suite.
• Bank of Africa Kenya: Subsidiary of Bank of Africa (BMCE Group, Morocco), offering retail, SME, and corporate banking in Kenya. Competes directly with UBA Kenya in retail accounts, trade finance, and digital banking.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses1 record

Competitive moat5 records

Key risks5 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• Xx.com/UBA_KE
• YouTubeyoutube.com/channel/UCLvhyxBneckUSqxHCZYydsg
• Facebookfacebook.com/UBAKenyaBank
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/ubakenya
• Instagraminstagram.com/uba_kenya

Compliance3 records

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles13 records

Funding overview

Funding rounds1 record

Investors1 record

Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

M&A

Investments

M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

Frequently asked questions about UBA Kenya