# Co-operative Bank of Kenya / MCo-opCash

> Source: https://docs.barcoder.ai/docs/wallets/coop-bank-kenya
> research date 2026-05-30 · extracted at 2026-10-07
> Publisher: Barcoder — encyclopedia of QR, barcode and payment-code standards

Specifications:
- [Co-operative Bank of Kenya — official](https://www.co-opbank.co.ke/)

## Overview

**Co-operative Bank of Kenya** is **a major Kenyan commercial bank** + **Kenyan cooperative banking heritage** <sup>[1][1], [2][2], [Kenya report](https://docs.barcoder.ai/docs/payments/KE)</sup>. **2025 baseline**: **MCo-opCash mobile banking app distinctive Kenyan banking app** + Co-op Bank App; multi-layer authentication + encryption security; comprehensive Kenyan banking services: account management + card management + loan management + fund transfers + bill payments + M-Pesa + Airtel transfers + airtime purchase.

**Distinctive Co-operative Bank of Kenya positioning** <sup>[1][1], [2][2], [3][3]</sup>:
- **Major Kenyan commercial bank** + **Kenyan cooperative banking heritage**
- **MCo-opCash mobile banking app distinctive Kenyan banking app** (multi-layer authentication + encryption security)
- **Co-op Bank App** Kenyan banking app
- **Kenyan M-Pesa + Airtel transfers + airtime purchase** distinctive Kenyan banking-mobile-money integration
- **1965 Co-operative Bank of Kenya founding** as Kenyan cooperative bank → distinctive Kenyan cooperative banking heritage
- **Co-operative Bank of Kenya Kenyan cooperative ownership structure** (distinctive Kenyan cooperative banking governance)

## History

**Jun 19 1965 — Co-operative Bank of Kenya founded** as Kenyan cooperative bank → distinctive Kenyan cooperative banking heritage.

**Dec 22 2008 — Co-operative Bank of Kenya IPO on NSE**.

**2010 — MCo-opCash mobile banking app launches**.

**2013 — Co-operative Bank of Kenya South Sudan subsidiary launch**.

**2025 — MCo-opCash + Co-op Bank App distinctive Kenyan banking apps + comprehensive Kenyan banking services** <sup>[1][1], [2][2], [3][3]</sup>.

## Ownership & operator

**Operating entity**: **Co-operative Bank of Kenya Limited (NSE: COOP)**.

**Major shareholders**: **Co-op Holdings Cooperative Society Ltd (Kenyan cooperative society parent; ~64% controlling) + Kenyan institutional + Kenyan retail public float**.

**Regulator**: **CBK (Central Bank of Kenya)**.

## Technical integration

**MCo-opCash mobile banking app** (iOS + Android; multi-layer authentication + encryption security) + **Co-op Bank App** + co-opbank.co.ke online + Co-op Bank cards (Visa + Mastercard) + Co-op Bank Kenyan + South Sudan branch network; PesaLink + Kenyan Instant Payment + Kenyan ACH (KEPSS); **Kenyan M-Pesa + Airtel transfers + airtime purchase** distinctive Kenyan banking-mobile-money integration.

## Users & growth

**2025**: MCo-opCash + Co-op Bank App distinctive Kenyan banking apps; major Kenyan commercial bank.

## Use cases

Kenyan + South Sudanese retail + private + corporate + SME + investment + cooperative banking via MCo-opCash + Co-op Bank App + co-opbank.co.ke online + cards + branches; PesaLink + Kenyan Instant Payment + Kenyan ACH (KEPSS); **Kenyan M-Pesa + Airtel transfers + airtime purchase** distinctive Kenyan banking-mobile-money integration.

## Implementations & partners

**Operator**: Co-operative Bank of Kenya Limited (NSE: COOP); Co-op Holdings Cooperative Society Ltd (~64% controlling).

**Major Kenyan banking competitors**: [Equity Bank (Kenya) + Equity Mobile](https://docs.barcoder.ai/docs/wallets/equity-bank) (East and Central Africa's largest banking group by customer base; 10M+ Kenyan customers; 7-country East and Central African footprint) + [KCB Bank (Kenya Commercial Bank)](https://docs.barcoder.ai/docs/wallets/kcb-bank) (Kenya #1 by assets; 6-country East African footprint) + [Absa Bank Kenya](https://docs.barcoder.ai/docs/wallets/absa-kenya) (post-2020 Barclays Kenya rebrand) + [NCBA Bank Kenya / Loop](https://docs.barcoder.ai/docs/wallets/ncba-bank) (post-Sep 30 2019 NIC + CBA merger; Loop distinctive Kenyan banking app) + [Stanbic Bank Kenya](https://docs.barcoder.ai/docs/wallets/stanbic-kenya) (Standard Bank Kenyan subsidiary) + [Diamond Trust Bank (DTB) / DTB 24/7](https://docs.barcoder.ai/docs/wallets/diamond-trust-bank) (DTB 24/7 distinctive Kenyan banking app) + [Family Bank Kenya / PesaPap](https://docs.barcoder.ai/docs/wallets/family-bank-kenya) (PesaPap distinctive Kenyan banking app) + [M-Pesa](https://docs.barcoder.ai/docs/wallets/m-pesa) (Safaricom Kenyan mobile money).

**Regulator**: CBK.

## Fun facts

- **Major Kenyan commercial bank** + **Kenyan cooperative banking heritage**.
- **MCo-opCash mobile banking app distinctive Kenyan banking app** (multi-layer authentication + encryption security).
- **Co-op Bank App** Kenyan banking app.
- **Kenyan M-Pesa + Airtel transfers + airtime purchase** distinctive Kenyan banking-mobile-money integration.
- **Jun 19 1965 Co-operative Bank of Kenya founding** as Kenyan cooperative bank → distinctive Kenyan cooperative banking heritage.
- **Co-operative Bank of Kenya Kenyan cooperative ownership structure** (distinctive Kenyan cooperative banking governance).

## Comparison

| Feature | Co-operative Bank of Kenya / MCo-opCash | [Equity Bank (Kenya) + Equity Mobile](https://docs.barcoder.ai/docs/wallets/equity-bank) (East and Central Africa's largest banking group by customer base rival) | [KCB Bank (Kenya Commercial Bank)](https://docs.barcoder.ai/docs/wallets/kcb-bank) (Kenya #1 by assets rival; 6-country East African footprint) | [NCBA Bank Kenya / Loop](https://docs.barcoder.ai/docs/wallets/ncba-bank) (post-Sep 30 2019 NIC + CBA merger rival; Loop distinctive Kenyan banking app) | [Diamond Trust Bank (DTB) / DTB 24/7](https://docs.barcoder.ai/docs/wallets/diamond-trust-bank) (DTB 24/7 distinctive Kenyan banking app rival) |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Operator | **Co-operative Bank of Kenya Limited (NSE: COOP; Co-op Holdings Cooperative Society Ltd ~64% controlling)** | Equity Group Holdings PLC (NSE: EQTY) | KCB Group PLC (NSE: KCB) | NCBA Group PLC (NSE: NCBA) | Diamond Trust Bank Group Limited (NSE: DTBK) |
| Type | **Major Kenyan commercial bank + Kenyan cooperative banking heritage + MCo-opCash + Co-op Bank App + Kenyan M-Pesa + Airtel transfers + airtime purchase Kenyan banking-mobile-money integration** | East and Central Africa's largest banking group by customer base + 10M+ Kenyan customers + 7-country East and Central African footprint + Equity Mobile app | Kenya #1 by assets + 6-country East African footprint + KCB Group Holdings parent | Post-Sep 30 2019 NIC + CBA merger + Loop distinctive Kenyan banking app + CBA-Safaricom M-Shwari (50M+ users) | Diamond Trust Bank Kenyan banking + DTB 24/7 + DTB m24/7 |
| Country | KE + SS | KE + 6+ countries | KE + 5+ countries | KE + 4+ countries | KE + UG + TZ + BI |
| Distinctive | **Jun 19 1965 Co-operative Bank of Kenya founding (Kenyan cooperative banking heritage); Dec 22 2008 NSE IPO; 2010 MCo-opCash launch; 2013 South Sudan subsidiary; Co-op Holdings Cooperative Society Ltd ~64% controlling (Kenyan cooperative governance)** | 1984 Equity Building Society founding; 2004 CBK banking license; 2020 BCDC DRC USD 105M acquisition; Equitel MVNO Kenyan bank-MVNO | 1896 founding as Kenyan branch of NBI; 1970 KCB founding | 1959 NIC Bank founding + 1962 CBA founding + Sep 30 2019 NCBA Bank merger | 1945 Diamond Trust Bank founding (Aga Khan Development Network heritage) |

## Status

**Active, major Kenyan commercial bank + Kenyan cooperative banking heritage** <sup>[1][1], [2][2], [3][3]</sup>:
- **Co-operative Bank of Kenya Limited (NSE: COOP; Co-op Holdings Cooperative Society Ltd ~64% controlling)** since Jun 19 1965 Co-operative Bank of Kenya founding + Dec 22 2008 NSE IPO + 2013 South Sudan subsidiary.
- **MCo-opCash + Co-op Bank App distinctive Kenyan banking apps + Kenyan M-Pesa + Airtel transfers + airtime purchase Kenyan banking-mobile-money integration**.
- **CBK regulated**.

## Sources

[1]: https://www.co-opbank.co.ke/ "Personal & Business Banking in Kenya — Co-operative Bank"
[2]: https://www.co-opbank.co.ke/ways_to_bank/mobile-banking-co-op-bank-app/ "Mobile Banking Using Co-op Bank app"
[3]: https://chipuko.com/cooperative-bank-account-complete-guide-kenya "Co-operative Bank Account in Kenya: Comprehensive 2025 Guide — Chipuko Digital"
[ke-cro]: https://docs.barcoder.ai/docs/payments/KE

- [1] [Personal & Business Banking in Kenya — Co-operative Bank][1]
- [2] [Mobile Banking Using Co-op Bank app][2]
- [3] [Co-operative Bank Account in Kenya: Comprehensive 2025 Guide — Chipuko Digital][3]
- <sup>[Kenya report](https://docs.barcoder.ai/docs/payments/KE)</sup> In-corpus: `reports/countries/KE-kenya.md`

## Source

Biography extracted from [coop-bank-kenya.md](https://docs.barcoder.ai/source/wallets/coop-bank-kenya). See `matrix.md` for standards-support matrix if present.