Tanzania Commercial Bank

What Tanzania Commercial Bank does

Tanzania Commercial Bank PLC (TCB) is a publicly-listed Tanzanian commercial bank providing retail, SME, corporate, and digital banking services across Tanzania. Established in 1925 as the Tanganyika Postal Office Savings Bank under British rule and reincorporated as Tanzania Commercial Bank PLC in July 2021, the bank is majority-owned by the Government of the United Republic of Tanzania (83.44%), with the remaining shares held by other state entities including Tanzania Posts Corporation, the Revolutionary Government of Zanzibar, PSSSF, and the Workers Compensation Fund. TCB operates 100+ branches across all major Tanzanian regions and serves individuals, small businesses, corporates, and government institutions through dedicated relationship managers and a multi-channel distribution network.

The bank's product platform spans deposit accounts (Tabasamu for women, Salary, Kivulini for retirees, My Dream for children, Wavuvi for fishermen, Farmer's Account), retail lending (consumer loans up to TZS 300M, mortgage loans at 16-17% reducing balance, pensioner loans), trade finance (Letters of Credit, bank guarantees, import/export financing, invoice discounting at 80-90% of face value), and card products (Visa Classic, Visa Platinum, Local EMV, TRC Transport Card). Digital infrastructure includes Internet Banking, the TCB Popote Mobile App, USSD banking via *150*21#, and Lipa Popote QR payments, with integrations to all four major Tanzanian mobile money operators (M-Pesa, Airtel Money, Mixx by Yas, HaloPesa) enabling Digital Group Saving for VICOBA and informal savings groups. The bank holds ISO/IEC 27001 certification for information security management.

TCB generates revenue primarily through interest income on lending (mortgage, consumer, corporate), transaction and trade finance fees (Letters of Credit, bank guarantees, documentary collections), foreign exchange trading, bancassurance commissions from insurance partnerships, and standard banking fees on digital and ATM services. Distribution occurs through physical branches, ATMs, Wakala agent banking, mobile and internet banking, and merchant QR solutions, with an explicit strategy of opening at least 10 new branches annually and active participation in trade fairs, community sponsorships, and government payroll banking relationships to drive both retail acquisition and corporate cash management mandates.

Name

Tanzania Commercial Bank

Legal name

Tanzania Commercial Bank PLC

Website

https://tcbbank.co.tz

Company type

Public

Founded year

1925

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

1–10 employees

Short description

Tanzania Commercial Bank PLC is a government-majority-owned Tanzanian commercial bank founded in 1925, operating 100+ branches nationwide and serving retail, SME, corporate, and underserved customers through deposit accounts, lending, trade finance, digital banking, and MNO-integrated mobile money products.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Retail Banking

NAICS

Commercial Banking (522110), Savings Institutions and Other Depository Credit Intermediation (522180), Depository Credit Intermediation (5221)

SIC

State Commercial Banks (6022), National Commercial Banks (6021), Savings Institutions, Not Federally Chartered (6036)

akta.pro primary industry

General SME & Middle-Market Commercial Banking (FSABABAA)

akta.pro secondary industries

Mass-Market Consumer Deposit Banking (Checking/Savings) (FSABAAAA), Savings Banks (Public/State-Owned) (FSABAKAK)

Keywords

• Retail banking services
• Trade finance products
• Mobile banking solutions
• Corporate banking services
• Microfinance lending

Headquarters

HQ city

Dar Es Salaam

HQ country

Tanzania

HQ region

Africa

Offices10 records

Markets served

GTM type

B2C

Offering type

Services

Cost components

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

Revenue model

1. Interest Income from Lending: Primary revenue from interest on loans including consumer loans, mortgage loans, pensioner loans, and corporate financing. Interest rates vary: mortgage at 16-17% reducing balance, consumer loans up to TZS 300 million.
2. Trade Finance Services: Fees from trade finance products including Letters of Credit, Bank Guarantees, Import/Export Financing, and Documentary Collections for corporate and commercial clients.
3. Banc Assurance Commission: Commission revenue from partnership with insurance companies offering personal, corporate, life, and agricultural insurance products through the bank.
4. Foreign Exchange Trading: Revenue from foreign exchange transactions including swap and forward contracts, and daily foreign exchange trading across multiple currency pairs.
5. Transaction and Banking Fees: Fees from digital banking services, ATM withdrawals, transfers, standing orders, salary processing, and other transactional banking services.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion3 records

Distribution channels6 records

Marketing channels5 records

Core offering

Tanzania Commercial Bank operates as a full-service commercial bank offering deposit accounts, lending products, trade finance, card products, digital banking channels, and bancassurance insurance partnerships. It serves retail individuals, SMEs, corporate clients, and underserved populations through 100+ physical branches and digital channels (mobile app, USSD, internet banking, QR payments). The bank's core revenue comes from interest on loans (consumer, mortgage, pensioner), transactional fees, trade finance commissions, and foreign exchange trading.

Product overview

Tanzania Commercial Bank (TCB) operates as a traditional commercial bank offering a unified platform of banking products and services rather than a modular software architecture. The bank provides retail and corporate banking services including multiple deposit accounts (Tabasamu, Salary, Kivulini, My Dream, Wavuvi, Farmer's accounts), lending products (Consumer, Pensioner, and Mortgage loans), trade finance solutions (Letters of Credit, Bank Guarantees, Import/Export Financing, Documentary Collections), and digital banking channels (Internet Banking, TCB Popote Mobile App, Lipa Popote QR payments, Cash Management Solution). The bank also offers card products (Visa Classic/Platinum debit cards, Local EMV card, TRC Transport card) and Banc Assurance partnerships for insurance products. These products are delivered through branch network, digital channels, and agency banking with Mobile Money Operator integrations (M-Pesa, Airtel Money, Mixx by Yas, HaloPesa) enabling inclusive financial services across Tanzania.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Brands

• TCB Cards: Debit cards including Visa Classic Debit Card, Visa Platinum Debit Card (TZS and USD), Local Debit Card (EMV), and TRC Transport Card
• Digital Group Saving
• TCB Popote Mobile App
• Lipa Popote
• Consumer Loan
• Mortgage Loan
• Pensioner Loan
• Tabasamu Account
• Salary Account
• Kivulini Account
• My Dream Account
• Banc Assurance

Products and services

• Internet Banking 24/7 digital banking platform for retail, SME, and corporate customers offering funds transfers, bill payments, salary processing, government payments (GEPG), statements, standing orders, and forex access.
• TCB Popote Mobile App Mobile banking application available on smartphones (iOS App Store and Google Play) and basic phones via USSD dialing *150*21#. Services include account opening, balance enquiry, funds transfer, airtime top-up, and utility bill payments.
• Lipa Popote (QR and Lipa Namba) Quick Response (QR) code and Lipa Namba USSD payment solution enabling merchants to accept electronic payments from customers by scanning QR codes or via USSD code. Accepts payments from banks and mobile network operators with no charges on payments.
• Digital Group Saving (VICOBA) Digital group savings product operated in partnership with Mobile Network Operators (Mixx by Yas, Airtel Money, HaloPesa, M-Pesa) for VICOBA and small group savings using mobile money platforms with real-time transaction monitoring via USSD and app.
• Cash Management Solution (CMS) Digitalized cash management facility for facilitating collections of payments, safe-tracking records, and data analysis. Features real-time operations, timely reconciliation, bulk SMS, encrypted system accepting deposits via mobile networks, POS agents, and bank counters; used by schools, microfinance institutions, wholesalers, and suppliers.
• Consumer Loan Credit facility for individuals with ascertainable income to supplement monthly earnings for personal needs such as school fees and medical expenses. Loan amounts range from TZS 500,000 to TZS 300,000,000, repayment terms 1-10 years, with credit life insurance attached.
• Mortgage Loan Property financing for acquiring, improving, or constructing residential houses, flats, commercial properties, and business projects secured by the property. Employees: 16% reducing per year, max 120-240 months, up to TZS 1 billion. Entrepreneurs/SME: 17% reducing per year, max 5-10 years, up to TZS 1.5 billion.
• Pensioner Loan Special loan product designed for retired individuals entitled to receive monthly pension, with competitive interest rates and preferential terms.
• Trade Finance Suite (Letters of Credit, Bank Guarantees, Import Financing, Export Financing, Invoice Discounting, Documentary Collections) Comprehensive trade finance products for international and domestic trade. Includes Sight/Usance Letters of Credit, Bid Bonds/Performance/Advance Payment/Customs Guarantees, post-import financing up to 180 days, pre- and post-shipment export financing, invoice/receivables discounting at 80-90% of invoice value, and D/P and D/A documentary collections.
• TCB Cards (Visa Classic, Visa Platinum TZS, Visa Platinum USD, Local EMV Debit, TRC Transport Card) Debit card portfolio with EMV Chip & PIN security and contactless payments. Visa Classic and Visa Platinum cards offer worldwide acceptance with varying ATM/POS/e-commerce limits. Local EMV card works at TCB ATMs and Umoja network. TRC Transport Card supports TRC/SGR train payments with cashback at selected merchants.
• Banc Assurance Insurance products offered through partnerships with top Tanzanian insurance companies (the bank is a registered Banc Assurance agency with the Tanzania Insurance Regulatory Authority). Includes personal, corporate, life, and agricultural insurance, plus premium financing, micro insurance, and claim support.
• Tabasamu Account Special savings account for women to support financial obligations and empower women entrepreneurs with low minimum balances, flexible deposits, and access to loans.
• Salary Account Savings account designed for employees of government, institutions, or private companies with no minimum operating balance, zero opening balance, and salary loan access.
• Kivulini Account Special bank savings account designed for retirees and prospective retirees, with pensioner loan access and monthly pension notifications.
• My Dream Account Savings account for children under 18 years old to help achieve goals and support educational needs under parent guidance, with no monthly fee for children under 18.
• Wavuvi Account Specialized savings account for fishermen and fishing value chain actors to safely save income, receive fish sale payments, and access financial services.
• Farmer's Account Specialized savings or transaction account designed for farmers and agricultural value chain actors to save, receive payments for produce, and access agricultural loans.
• Collection/Revenue Account Dedicated corporate account enabling efficient revenue collection from multiple sources with improved visibility and reconciliation over incoming funds, connected to internet banking.
• Call Account Interest-earning corporate account allowing clients to receive competitive returns on surplus funds with daily interest accrual and immediate access, available in local and foreign currency.
• Fixed Deposits Investment accounts available in both local and foreign currency offering competitive returns over different agreed tenures.
• Expenditure Account Dedicated corporate account supporting payment processes for local/international payments and salary processing with online banking for operational efficiency and transparency.
• Foreign Exchange Trading Foreign exchange trading across multiple currency pairs (USD, GBP, KES, UGX, ZAR) including swap and forward contracts and daily FX trading; published FX rates on the bank's website.

Quantifiable outcome

• ATM withdrawals up to TZS 5,000,000 for debit cards
• +2 more outcomes

Named customers5 records

Segments4 records

Ideal customer profiles4 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Integration11 records

Feature5 records

Partnerships

Four partnerships are on record, tiered minor and core.

• Selous Marathon OrganizersminorGTM or Marketing Partner · 31 March 2026TCB collaborates with Selous Marathon organizers for the TCB Selous Marathon event scheduled for June 2026. Partnership includes community activities such as donating clove seedlings to schools and promoting environmental sustainability initiatives.
• University of Dar es SalaamminorGTM or Marketing Partner · 20 November 2025TCB was among sponsors of the Blue Economy Forum organized by University of Dar es Salaam, focusing on exploring opportunities in the fisheries sector. Director Richard Mtapa participated in panel discussion on role of banks in advancing and financing blue economy technologies.
• Mobile Network Operators (MNOs)coreTechnology or IntegrationTCB partners with Mobile Network Operators including Mixx by Yas, Airtel Money, HaloPesa, and M-Pesa to offer Digital Group Saving (VICOBA) and mobile banking services. This partnership enables customers to access banking through USSD codes (*150*21# for KIKOBA MIX) and mobile apps, facilitating group savings, transfers, and transactions for both formal and informal savings groups.
• Top Tanzania Insurance CompaniescoreChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorTCB is registered as a Banc Assurance agency by Tanzania Insurance Regulatory Authority. The bank partners with top Tanzanian insurance companies to offer comprehensive insurance products including personal, corporate, life, and agricultural insurance. Services include general insurance, life insurance, insurance premium financing, micro insurance, and claim support.

Scale indicators3 records

Recent moves12 records

Expansion highlights6 records

Emerging players

• Akiba Commercial Bank: Akiba Commercial Bank is a smaller Tanzanian commercial bank focusing on retail and SME segments. It is comparable to TCB in its retail banking focus, though with a narrower geographic footprint.
• Mkombozi Bank: Mkombozi Bank is a smaller Tanzanian commercial bank focused on SME and inclusive banking. It is comparable to TCB in its customer segments and financial inclusion focus, though at a smaller scale.

Broad incumbents

• Stanbic Bank Tanzania: Stanbic Bank Tanzania is the local subsidiary of Standard Bank Group, offering retail, corporate, and investment banking across Tanzania. It competes with TCB in corporate banking, trade finance, and increasingly in retail/SME digital offerings.
• Standard Chartered Bank Tanzania: Standard Chartered Tanzania is a global bank with a strong focus on corporate, trade finance, and affluent retail banking. It competes with TCB in corporate banking, trade finance, and FX services for large clients in Tanzania.

Regional players

• Equity Bank Tanzania: Equity Bank Tanzania is the Tanzanian subsidiary of Equity Group Holdings, focused on financial inclusion and SME banking. It is comparable to TCB's financial inclusion mandate and competes in similar retail and SME segments.
• KCB Bank Tanzania: KCB Bank Tanzania is the Tanzanian subsidiary of KCB Group, a leading East African bank with retail, SME, and corporate banking. It is comparable to TCB in scale and customer focus, with regional cross-border capabilities.

Direct peers

• CRDB Bank: CRDB Bank is Tanzania's largest commercial bank with a nationwide branch network and full retail, SME, and corporate banking services. It is a direct peer of TCB, serving overlapping customer segments with similar deposit, lending, and digital banking products.
• Absa Bank Tanzania (formerly NBC): Absa Bank Tanzania (formerly National Bank of Commerce) is a mid-to-large commercial bank serving retail, SME, and corporate clients. It directly competes with TCB in the same Tanzanian market with comparable deposit, lending, and digital banking offerings.
• Bank of Africa Tanzania: Bank of Africa Tanzania is a mid-sized commercial bank offering retail, SME, and corporate banking services. It is a direct peer of TCB, competing on similar customer segments within the Tanzanian market.
• NMB Bank Tanzania: NMB Bank is one of Tanzania's largest banks, with deep retail and SME banking penetration and a strong digital banking platform. It is a direct competitor to TCB across retail deposits, SME lending, and corporate banking in Tanzania.

Market position

Strengths4 records

Weaknesses4 records

Competitive moat4 records

Key risks5 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• Xx.com/tcbbank_
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• Facebookfacebook.com/tanzaniacommercialbank
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/tanzania-commercial-banktz
• Instagraminstagram.com/tanzaniacommercialbank

Compliance1 record

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles24 records

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

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 Tanzania Commercial Bank