Prime Bank
Prime Bank is a privately held Kenyan Tier II commercial bank founded in 1992, serving retail, SME, and enterprise customers through 26+ branches and digital channels. Products span deposits, lending, cards, trade finance, treasury, and insurance for personal, corporate, and premium segments.
- Company typePrivate
- Founded1992
- HeadquartersNairobi, Kenya
- Headcount251–500
- GTM typeB2B and B2C
- OfferingServices
What Prime Bank does
Prime Bank is a privately held Kenyan commercial bank established in 1992 and headquartered in Nairobi. The bank operates as a Tier II institution under Central Bank of Kenya supervision, serving three primary customer segments: Personal Banking (retail), Corporate Banking (SMEs and enterprises), and Select/Premium Banking. Its distribution spans 26+ physical branches across Kenya's major cities — including Nairobi, Mombasa, Kisumu, Eldoret, Kitale, Nakuru, Meru, and Thika — supplemented by four Prime Express self-service kiosks and Smart ATMs.
The product platform spans deposits (current, savings, foreign currency accounts), lending (personal loans, mortgages, business loans, asset finance, overdrafts), trade finance, treasury services, cards, and insurance. Digital channels include PrimeNet (internet banking), PrimeMobile (mobile app), PrimeKopa (digital lending), and Prime Remit (international money transfer). The technology stack integrates with Kenya's payment infrastructure via SWIFT, iTax, Pesalink, and crucially with Safaricom M-Pesa and Airtel Money for mobile-money interoperability, alongside Visa for card processing. The bank also pursues affinity-marketing partnerships such as with the Junior Golf Foundation for the Prime Visa Golf Card and Prime Golf Day tournament platform.
The business model is a classic interest-rate-spread retail and corporate bank: net interest income from lending activities (personal, mortgage, business, asset finance, overdrafts), fee and commission income from cards, trade finance, and treasury operations, plus deposit-funded balance-sheet leverage. Q1 2026 net profit of KSh 1.8B (a 38.46% year-over-year increase) suggests the franchise is currently in an operating-leverage phase driven by prior expansion and improved asset quality, with three-segment cross-sell and channel diversification as the primary growth engines.
Prime Bank firmographics
Firmographics- Name
- Prime Bank
- Legal name
- Prime Bank Limited
- Website
- https://primebank.co.ke
- Company type
- Private
- Founded year
- 1992
- Operating status
- Operating
- Headcount range
- 251–500 employees
- Short description
- Prime Bank is a privately held Kenyan Tier II commercial bank founded in 1992, serving retail, SME, and enterprise customers through 26+ branches and digital channels. Products span deposits, lending, cards, trade finance, treasury, and insurance for personal, corporate, and premium segments.
- Ownership category
- akta.pro rank
Prime Bank industry classification
Industry- Product category
- Retail Banking
- NAICS
- Commercial Banking (52211), Depository Credit Intermediation (5221)
- SIC
- National Commercial Banks (6021)
- akta.pro primary industry
- Mass-Market Consumer Deposit Banking (Checking/Savings) (FSABAAAA)
- akta.pro secondary industries
- Affluent/Premier Retail Banking (Mass Affluent) (FSABAAAG), Prime Unsecured Personal Loans (Installment) (FSAKAAAA)
Keywords
Where Prime Bank is headquartered
LocationHeadquarters
- HQ city
- Nairobi
- HQ country
- Kenya
- HQ region
- Africa
Offices26 records
Markets served
Prime Bank business model
Business model- GTM type
- B2B and B2C
- Offering type
- Services
- Cost components
- Personnel, Operations, Infrastructure, Technology or R&D, Marketing or Sales, Others
Revenue model
- Interest Income: Interest earned on loans and advances including personal loans, mortgages, business loans, asset finance, and overdrafts.
- Transaction Fees and Commissions: Fees from electronic banking transactions, fund transfers, trade finance services, and salary processing.
- Card Services: Revenue from credit cards, debit cards, prepaid cards including multi-currency cards, and corporate credit cards.
- Deposit Account Services: Fees and services related to current accounts, savings accounts, fixed deposits, and foreign currency accounts.
- Trade Finance: Revenue from trade services, letters of credit, financial guarantees, and local bills discounting.
- Treasury Services: Cross currency deals and treasury management services for corporate customers.
Pricing tiers
| Model | Billing | Price |
|---|---|---|
| Subscription | Monthly | Personal Banking - Account Services |
| Subscription | Monthly | Corporate Banking - Business Solutions |
| Transaction based/ take rate | Annual | Card Services |
| Subscription | Monthly | Digital Banking Services |
Distribution channels5 records
Marketing channels6 records
Prime Bank product offering
Product offeringCore offering
Prime Bank is a Kenyan commercial bank providing personal, corporate, and premium banking services. Its core offerings span deposit accounts (savings, current, fixed deposits, foreign currency accounts), lending products (personal loans, mortgages, business loans, asset finance, overdrafts, digital lending via PrimeKopa), card products (Visa credit, debit, prepaid, and corporate cards), trade finance and treasury services, insurance, custody/wealth services, and digital banking channels including the PrimeMobile app, PrimeNet internet banking, and Smart ATMs. The bank distributes these through 26+ branches and Prime Express locations across Kenya.
Product overview
Prime Bank is a Kenyan financial institution offering a comprehensive banking platform with multiple product lines across personal, corporate, and premium banking segments. The core offerings include digital banking channels (PrimeNet internet banking and PrimeMobile app), deposit accounts (savings, current, and fixed deposits including foreign currency options), lending products (personal loans, mortgages, business loans, and asset finance), card products (Visa credit, debit, and prepaid multi-currency cards), insurance services, trade finance, treasury services, and payment services including international remittance through Prime Remit, M-Pesa integration, SWIFT transfers, and Pesalink. The bank also offers wealth management through custody services and operates select banking channels including platinum banking and Prime Express locations.
Differentiator
Problem solved
Functional benefit
Brands
- PrimeNet: Online banking platform for corporate and personal customers
- PrimeMobile
- Prime Saver
- PrimeKopa
- Prime Remit
- Prime Express
- Prime Flexi
- Prime Esteem
- Prime Yes
- Prime Faida
- Prime Wananchi
- Prime Biashara
- Prime Baraka
- Prime Enterprise Business
- Prime Mali Mortgage
- Prime Visa Golf Card
- Multi Currency Prepaid Card
Products and services
- PrimeMobile
Quantifiable outcome
- 38.46% increase in net profit to KSh 1.8 billion in Q1 2026
- +1 more outcomes
Companies that use Prime Bank
Customer profileSegments3 records
Ideal customer profiles3 records
Prime Bank technology and API
TechnologyTechnology focussed No
API detail
- Has API
- No
- API docs
- API detail
Core technology
AI maturity
App detail
AI capability1 record
Feature5 records
Prime Bank partnerships and signals
Strategic signalPartnerships
14 partnerships are on record, tiered minor and core.
- Kenya Society of Endoscopic Specialties (KESES)minorPrime Bank, through Chairman Dr. Rasik Kantaria, donated KSh 200,000 to support the 3rd African Conference of International Society for Gynecological Endoscopy hosted by KESES.
- Rotary District 9212coreFounding partner of the Freedom for Girls project (initiated in 2008), providing sanitary towels and health education to underprivileged girls. Partnership has continued for 12+ years.
- Lions InternationalcoreFounding partner of the Freedom for Girls project (initiated in 2008), working to keep vulnerable girls in school through provision of sanitary products.
- Health Education Africa Resource Team (HEART) FoundationcoreImplementing partner for Freedom for Girls project. Over 351,337 girls reached since 2008. Project has kept 128,320 girls in school over the last seven years.
- Gertrude's Children's HospitalcorePrime Bank Chairman Dr. Rasik Kantaria personally donated KES 40 million toward construction of new KES 220 million paediatric ward. Partnership includes telemedicine collaboration.
- Maa Trust FoundationcorePartnership to support Talek Maternal, Newborn, and Child Health (MNCH) facility. Prime Bank donated KSh 5.1 million to enhance healthcare services in Maasai Mara region.
- Seeds of the Future ProgramminorCommunity-driven reforestation project launched on World Environment Day 2026 at Cheleta Primary School, planting 100 indigenous seedlings with goal of cultivating 2,000.
- Kenya Red Cross SocietyminorPartnership for drought relief efforts, with Prime Bank Chairman Dr. Rasik Kantaria joining to flag off food convoys for drought-stricken communities.
- Rotary Club of NairobiminorPartnership for education digitization initiative, with Prime Bank donating 35 computers to Bondeni Primary School in Kayole through RCN.
- Kenya Golf Union (KGU)minorPartnership to develop youth golf talent. First ever golf card in Kenya (Prime Visa Golf Card) created, with KSh 2,000 donated to Junior Golf Foundation for each card sign-up.
- Junior Golf Foundation (JGF)minorPartnership to develop youth golf talent through the Prime Visa Golf Card. KSh 500,000 donated in December through the initiative.
- VisacorePartnership for Prime Visa Golf Card - first golf card in Kenya. Card enables golfers to enjoy benefits while generating funds for JGF.
- Central Bank of KenyacoreRegulatory authority that licenses and regulates Prime Bank Kenya.
- Safaricom (M-Pesa)coreIntegration with M-Pesa mobile money platform enabling convenient mobile payments and transfers.
Scale indicators3 records
Recent moves6 records
Expansion highlights6 records
Prime Bank competitors and assessment
Company assessmentBroad incumbents
- Equity Bank Kenya: Equity is a Tier I Kenyan commercial bank with massive retail and SME reach through Equity Agents and Equitel. As the dominant Tier I player, it sets pricing benchmarks and competitive dynamics that Prime Bank must respond to across deposits, lending, and digital channels.
- Absa Bank Kenya: Absa Bank Kenya is the Kenyan subsidiary of Absa Group, offering full retail, corporate, and digital banking. It is a competitor for premium retail, corporate lending, and trade finance business that Prime Bank's Platinum Banking and corporate segments also target.
- Stanbic Bank Kenya: Stanbic Bank Kenya (subsidiary of Standard Bank Group) offers retail, corporate, and investment banking services. It competes with Prime Bank for large corporate accounts, trade finance mandates, and FX/treasury services.
- Co-operative Bank of Kenya: Co-op Bank is a Tier I Kenyan commercial bank with strong retail, Sacco-linked, and corporate banking franchises. It competes with Prime Bank across mass-market deposit products, SME lending, and digital banking (MCo-op Cash).
- KCB Bank Kenya: KCB is one of the largest Tier I Kenyan banks with the broadest branch network and corporate franchise. It competes with Prime Bank in SME lending, trade finance, and corporate cash management, and is a benchmark for cost of funds and loan pricing.
Direct peers
- I&M Bank Kenya: I&M Bank is a closely comparable Tier II Kenyan commercial bank offering retail, corporate, and digital banking services with a similar product breadth (deposits, lending, cards, trade finance). Like Prime Bank, it operates within the same CBK-regulated Tier II competitive set and serves similar SME and personal banking segments.
- NCBA Bank Kenya: NCBA (formerly NIC Bank and CBA) is a Tier II-aligned Kenyan bank offering retail, corporate, and digital banking (including NCBA Loop). It competes directly with Prime Bank for SME and corporate deposits, lending, and digital wallet integrations.
- Bank of Africa Kenya: Bank of Africa Kenya is a Tier-aligned commercial bank (subsidiary of Bank of Africa Group) focused on retail, SME, and corporate banking. It competes with Prime Bank for SME current accounts, lending products, and diaspora/remittance services.
- Diamond Trust Bank Kenya: Diamond Trust Bank is a Tier II commercial bank with operations in Kenya, Uganda, Tanzania, and Burundi, offering retail and corporate banking products comparable to Prime Bank. It is a head-to-head competitor in the same Think Business Banking Awards Tier II category.
- Family Bank Kenya: Family Bank is a smaller Tier-aligned Kenyan commercial bank focused on retail and SME banking with a strong Christian-values brand. It competes with Prime Bank in the same mass-market segment and is similarly digitally transforming via mobile and agency banking.
Market position
Strengths5 records
Weaknesses4 records
Competitive moat6 records
Key risks6 records
Key highlights7 records
Customer concentration
Prime Bank social profiles
Digital presencePrime Bank financial estimates
Financial estimateRevenue estimate
Valuation estimate
Prime Bank leadership team
Management profileNumber of profiles
Profiles6 records
Prime Bank funding detail
Funding detailFunding overview
Funding rounds1 record
Investors2 records
Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →
Prime Bank M&A and investment
M&A and investmentM&A
Investments
M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →
Frequently asked questions about Prime Bank
What does Prime Bank do?
Prime Bank is a Kenyan commercial bank providing personal, corporate, and premium banking services. Its core offerings span deposit accounts (savings, current, fixed deposits, foreign currency accounts), lending products (personal loans, mortgages, business loans, asset finance, overdrafts, digital lending via PrimeKopa), card products (Visa credit, debit, prepaid, and corporate cards), trade finance and treasury services, insurance, custody/wealth services, and digital banking channels including the PrimeMobile app, PrimeNet internet banking, and Smart ATMs. The bank distributes these through 26+ branches and Prime Express locations across Kenya.
Is Prime Bank a public or private company?
Prime Bank is a private company. It is classified as venture growth investor backed and is currently operating.
When was Prime Bank founded?
Prime Bank was founded in 1992. It employs 251 to 500 people.
Where is Prime Bank based?
Prime Bank is headquartered in Nairobi, Kenya, in the Africa region.
How does Prime Bank make money?
Six revenue lines are on record. Interest Income is the primary driver. The others are transaction Fees and Commissions, card Services, deposit Account Services, trade Finance and treasury Services.
Who are Prime Bank's main competitors?
Broad incumbents on record are Equity Bank Kenya, Absa Bank Kenya, Stanbic Bank Kenya, Co-operative Bank of Kenya and KCB Bank Kenya. Direct peers are I&M Bank Kenya, NCBA Bank Kenya, Bank of Africa Kenya, Diamond Trust Bank Kenya and Family Bank Kenya.
Does Prime Bank have an API?
No public API is recorded for Prime Bank.
What industry is Prime Bank in?
Prime Bank's product category is Retail Banking. Its primary akta.pro industry code is FSABAAAA, Mass-Market Consumer Deposit Banking (Checking/Savings), with a secondary code of FSABAAAG, Affluent/Premier Retail Banking (Mass Affluent). Its NAICS code is 52211 and its SIC code is 6021.