Home SWIFT/BIC code Kenya
Kenya SWIFT/BIC code validator
How the SWIFT/BIC code format works
- Format
- 8 or 11-character bank identifier code, country code KE in positions 5-6
- Example
- EQBLKENA
Things to watch for
- Structure: 4-letter bank code + KE (country) + 2-character location code, plus an optional 3-character branch code
- An 8-character code (or one ending XXX) refers to the bank's head office in Nairobi
- No checksum digit — this is a format check only; it confirms positions 5-6 read KE, not that the bank or branch actually exists
^[A-Z]{4}KE[A-Z0-9]{2}([A-Z0-9]{3})?$A Kenyan SWIFT/BIC code identifies the bank on an international wire transfer into or out of Kenya. Kenya doesn’t use IBANs, so a cross-border payment relies on the BIC together with the recipient’s domestic account and branch details rather than one combined code. Every Kenyan BIC has KE fixed at positions 5-6, right after the 4-letter bank code, and the country’s largest banks register their SWIFT head office in Nairobi, East Africa’s financial hub.
Major Kenyan bank BIC prefixes
| Bank | BIC | Location |
|---|---|---|
| Equity Bank | EQBLKENA | Nairobi |
| Kenya Commercial Bank (KCB) | KCBLKENX | Nairobi |
| Co-operative Bank of Kenya | KCOOKENA | Nairobi |
How this validator works
This tool checks that the code is 8 or 11 characters, the first 4 characters are letters, positions 5-6 read KE, and the remaining characters follow the letter-or-digit pattern for the location and branch segments — entirely in your browser, with nothing sent to a server.
What a pass doesn’t tell you
A pass confirms the code fits the Kenyan BIC pattern, not that EQBL, KCBL, or KCOO still names an operating bank, or that the branch suffix is current. A BIC carries no checksum digit, so a made-up code that matches the shape still passes.
Scope: format validation only, and only for the SWIFT/BIC used on cross-border transfers — it does not check a domestic account or branch code entered alongside it.
SWIFT/BIC code FAQ
What's the SWIFT code format for a Kenyan bank?
A Kenyan BIC is 8 or 11 characters: a 4-letter bank code, KE fixed at positions 5-6, a 2-character location code, and an optional 3-character branch code — for example EQBLKENA for Equity Bank.
How do I read a Kenyan BIC?
In KCOOKENA, KCOO identifies Co-operative Bank of Kenya, KE is the country, and NA is the location code for the bank's Nairobi head office.
Is a SWIFT/BIC code the same as a Kenyan bank branch code?
No. Kenyan banks use separate domestic branch and account details for local transfers (including M-Pesa and RTGS); the SWIFT/BIC code is only for identifying the bank on an international wire, and Kenya does not issue IBANs.