The Central Bank of Kenya (CBK) has announced the transfer of all assets and liabilities of Access Bank (Kenya) Plc to National Bank of Kenya Limited (NBK).
The transfer follows approval by the CBK on August 17, 2026, under Section 13(4) of the Banking Act, and subsequent approval by the Cabinet Secretary for the National Treasury and Economic Planning on September 21, 2026, pursuant to Section 9(1) of the Banking Act.
In a statement on Wednesday, CBK said the transfer will take effect upon completion of the transaction in accordance with the terms of the Business and Assets Transfer Agreement between the two parties.
CBK said the transaction is expected to contribute to the stability and resilience of Kenya’s banking sector while promoting competition.
“CBK welcomes this transaction as it will ensure continued stability and enhance resilience of the Kenyan banking sector and promote competition,” the regulator said.
NBK was incorporated in 1968 as a wholly owned Government entity with the objective of helping Kenyans access credit and supporting economic development following independence.
In September 2019, KCB Group Plc acquired 100 per cent of the shareholding of NBK.
In May 2025, Access Bank Plc acquired 100 per cent of the issued share capital of NBK from KCB Group Plc.
Access Bank Plc entered the Kenyan market in February 2020 after acquiring 100 per cent of the issued share capital of Transnational Bank Plc, which was subsequently renamed Access Bank (Kenya) Plc.
Transnational Bank began operations in December 1985.
Access Bank Plc was incorporated in February 1989 and is one of Nigeria’s largest banking groups. It is a wholly owned subsidiary of Access Holdings Plc and operates subsidiaries across several African countries.
The group has operations in Botswana, Cameroon, the Democratic Republic of Congo, The Gambia, Ghana, Guinea, Kenya, Mozambique, Nigeria, Rwanda, Sierra Leone, South Africa and Zambia.
It also has a subsidiary in the United Kingdom, representative offices in China, India and Lebanon, and a branch in the United Arab Emirates.
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