List of Kenyan Banks Operating in Tanzania, Employing Over 1,000 Tanzanians

• The government of Tanzania blocked foreign nationals, including Kenyans, from operating 15 businesses in the country
• Among the businesses were, mobile banking services and tour guide services, excluding retail banking
• According to the Commercial Bank of Kenya Bank Annual Supervisory Report 2025, there are 586 Kenyan bank branches spread outside the country
• In Tanzania, there are 17 branches of Kenyan commercial banks, employing more than 1,000 Tanzanians

Wycliffe Musalia has over six years of experience in financial, business, technology, climate, and health reporting, providing deep insights into Kenyan and global economic trends. He currently works as a business editor at TUKO.co.ke.

Kenyan commercial banks with operations in the neighbouring countries, including Tanzania, have been posting positive results in recent years.

Latest disclosures from lenders like Equity Bank, which have a diversified regional business portfolio, showed improvement in profit.

Equity Bank posted over KSh 33 billion in net profit for the half year 2025, attributed to strong regional growth.

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Kenya Commercial Bank (KCB), which also boasts regional footprints, posted over KSh 32 billion during the same period under review.

Which Kenyan bank operates outside the country

Data from the Central Bank of Kenya (CBK) showed that Kenyan banks with regional operations have 586 branches across the East African region.

These lenders include KCB Group Holdings Plc, Diamond Trust Bank Group, NCBA Group Plc, Guaranty Trust Bank Kenya Limited, Equity Group Holdings Plc, I&M Group PLC, African Banking Corporation Limited and The Cooperative Bank of Kenya Limited.

CBK noted in the Bank Annual Supervisory Report 2024 that the lenders have positioned themselves to capitalise on the growing cross-border trade flows.

"This has in turn contributed to the deepening of customer relationships, the delivery of products and services. It has also led to utilisation of host country resources, both capital and human, which has positively impacted market development and social economics," the report released in August 2025 read in part.

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The Kenyan banks posted a combined employee count of 12,811 as of December 31, 2024.

Which Kenyan banks operate in Tanzania?

According to the report, Kenyan banks operating in Tanzania have 77 branches and employ 1,841 Tanzanians.

These banks include state-owned KCB and private lenders like Equity Bank and NCBA.

Below is the list of Kenyan commercial banks operating in Tanzania, their branches and the number of employees.

How Kenyan banks performed in Tanzania

The report showed that the total assets of these commercial banks in Tanzania stood at KSh 305.4 million during the same period under review.

The combined gross loans for the subsidiaries in the host countries stood at KSh 967.68 billion, with Tanzania taking a share of 18.2%.

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In terms of deposits, Kenyan banks' subsidiaries recorded KSh 237.9 million, a growth rate of 14% from KSh 272.8 million.

Which business has Tanzania banned from foreign operations?

Meanwhile, the Tanzanian government banned the operation of 15 businesses in the country by foreign nationals.

Apart from retail banking, these businesses included mobile money transfer services and tour guide services.

President Samia Suluhu's administration said it has ring-fenced the businesses to create employment for its citizens and local traders.

Proofreading by Asher Omondi, copy editor at TUKO.co.ke.

Source: TUKO.co.ke