# NCBA Bank Kenya / Loop

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

Specifications:
- [NCBA Group — official](https://ncbagroup.com/)

## Overview

**NCBA Bank Kenya** is **a Kenyan banking group post-Sep 30 2019 NIC Bank + Commercial Bank of Africa (CBA) merger** + **Loop distinctive Kenyan banking app pioneer** <sup>[1][1], [2][2], [Kenya report](https://docs.barcoder.ai/docs/payments/KE)</sup>. **2025 baseline**: NCBA Group **KES 23.4 billion profit after tax** for 2025 (+7% YoY from KES 21.9 billion in 2024) + increase in customers using mobile banking apps + digital wallets; Loop distinctive Kenyan mobile + web banking digital service offering personal loans + consistent user credit limits.

**Distinctive NCBA Bank positioning** <sup>[1][1], [2][2], [3][3], [4][4]</sup>:
- **Kenyan banking group post-Sep 30 2019 NIC Bank + Commercial Bank of Africa (CBA) merger** — distinctive Kenyan banking consolidation
- **Loop distinctive Kenyan banking app pioneer** — distinctive Kenyan mobile + web banking digital service (NIC Bank + CBA mobile banking pioneer heritage)
- **NCBA Group 2025 KES 23.4 billion profit after tax** (+7% YoY from KES 21.9 billion in 2024) + increase in customers using mobile banking apps + digital wallets
- **NCBA Group 5-country East + West African footprint**: Kenya + Uganda + Tanzania + Rwanda + Côte d'Ivoire
- **CBA + Safaricom 2012 M-Shwari joint venture** (CBA pre-NCBA merger; M-Shwari Kenyan mobile money savings + microloan; distinctive Kenyan banking-mobile-money joint venture innovation)
- **NCBA-M-Shwari + Safaricom continuing partnership** distinctive Kenyan banking-mobile-money flagship (50M+ M-Shwari Kenyan + Tanzania + Côte d'Ivoire users)

## History

**1959 — National Industrial Credit (NIC Bank) founded** in Kenya.

**1962 — Commercial Bank of Africa (CBA) founded** in Kenya.

**Nov 27 2012 — CBA + Safaricom launch M-Shwari** (distinctive Kenyan banking-mobile-money savings + microloan joint venture; CBA Kenyan banking-mobile-money pioneer).

**2014 — NIC Bank + CBA mobile banking apps launch**.

**Sep 30 2019 — NCBA Bank established** via NIC Bank + Commercial Bank of Africa (CBA) merger → NCBA Group PLC (NSE: NCBA; UGX: NCBA; RSE: NCBA) <sup>[3][3]</sup>.

**2020 — NCBA Loop relaunches** as combined NIC Bank + CBA mobile + web banking digital service.

**Apr 2025 — NCBA Loop's New Mobile Banking App User Experience (UX)** — Seamless + user-centric redesign reviewed (per Moses Kemibaro digital marketing review) <sup>[4][4]</sup>.

**2025 — NCBA Group KES 23.4 billion profit after tax** (+7% YoY from KES 21.9 billion in 2024) + increase in customers using mobile banking apps + digital wallets <sup>[1][1], [2][2]</sup>.

## Ownership & operator

**Operating entity**: **NCBA Group PLC** (NSE: NCBA; UGX: NCBA; RSE: NCBA).

**Major shareholders**: **Kenyatta family (post-2019 NCBA merger; former CBA controlling shareholders; ~14%) + Ndegwa family (post-2019 NCBA merger; former NIC Bank controlling shareholders; ~12%) + Enke Investments + Kenyan institutional + Kenyan retail public float**.

**Regulators**: **CBK (Central Bank of Kenya) + multi-jurisdiction East African + West African regulators**.

## Technical integration

**Loop by NCBA distinctive Kenyan mobile + web banking digital service** (iOS + Android) + ncbagroup.com online + NCBA Bank Kenya cards (Visa + Mastercard) + NCBA Bank Kenya branch network; PesaLink + Kenyan Instant Payment + Kenyan ACH (KEPSS); **CBA-Safaricom M-Shwari partnership (50M+ M-Shwari Kenyan + Tanzania + Côte d'Ivoire users)** distinctive Kenyan banking-mobile-money joint venture + **CBA-Safaricom KCB M-Pesa partnership** (NCBA-CBA Kenyan banking-mobile-money flagship).

**Loop distinctive features**: Personal loans for consistent users active 3+ months + KYC verification + credit limit assignment + Kenyan P2P + Kenyan QR + Kenyan utility bill payments.

## Users & growth

**2025**: NCBA Group KES 23.4 billion profit after tax (+7% YoY from KES 21.9 billion in 2024) + increase in customers using mobile banking apps + digital wallets; **2025 NCBA Loop New Mobile Banking App UX redesign** — Seamless + user-centric.

## Use cases

Kenyan + Ugandan + Tanzanian + Rwandan + Ivorian retail + private + corporate + SME + investment + Islamic banking via NCBA Loop + ncbagroup.com online + cards + branches; PesaLink + Kenyan Instant Payment + Kenyan ACH (KEPSS); **CBA-Safaricom M-Shwari partnership** (Kenyan banking-mobile-money joint venture); **Loop distinctive personal loans for consistent users**.

## Implementations & partners

**Operator**: NCBA Group PLC (NSE: NCBA; UGX: NCBA; RSE: NCBA); Kenyatta family (post-2019 NCBA merger; former CBA controlling shareholders; ~14%) + Ndegwa family (post-2019 NCBA merger; former NIC Bank controlling shareholders; ~12%).

**East + West African subsidiaries**: **NCBA Bank Uganda** + **NCBA Bank Tanzania** + **NCBA Bank Rwanda** + **NCBA Bank Côte d'Ivoire** + **NCBA Insurance + NCBA Investment Bank + NCBA Asset Management + NCBA Pension Custodian**.

**Strategic partnerships**: **CBA-Safaricom M-Shwari partnership** (distinctive Kenyan banking-mobile-money savings + microloan joint venture; 50M+ M-Shwari Kenyan + Tanzania + Côte d'Ivoire users) + **NCBA-Safaricom continuing M-Shwari partnership** + **NCBA-CBA pre-merger Safaricom KCB M-Pesa partnership**.

**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) + [Stanbic Bank Kenya](https://docs.barcoder.ai/docs/wallets/stanbic-kenya) (Standard Bank Group's Kenyan subsidiary; post-2008 CfC + Stanbic Kenya merger) + [Co-operative Bank of Kenya / MCo-opCash](https://docs.barcoder.ai/docs/wallets/coop-bank-kenya) + [Family Bank Kenya / PesaPap](https://docs.barcoder.ai/docs/wallets/family-bank-kenya) + [Diamond Trust Bank (DTB) / DTB 24/7](https://docs.barcoder.ai/docs/wallets/diamond-trust-bank) + [M-Pesa](https://docs.barcoder.ai/docs/wallets/m-pesa) (Safaricom Kenyan mobile money + distinctive Kenyan banking-mobile-money competitor).

**Regulators**: CBK + multi-jurisdiction East African + West African regulators.

## Fun facts

- **Kenyan banking group post-Sep 30 2019 NIC Bank + Commercial Bank of Africa (CBA) merger** — distinctive Kenyan banking consolidation.
- **Loop distinctive Kenyan banking app pioneer** — distinctive Kenyan mobile + web banking digital service (NIC Bank + CBA mobile banking pioneer heritage).
- **NCBA Group 2025 KES 23.4 billion profit after tax** (+7% YoY from KES 21.9 billion in 2024) + increase in customers using mobile banking apps + digital wallets.
- **NCBA Group 5-country East + West African footprint**: Kenya + Uganda + Tanzania + Rwanda + Côte d'Ivoire.
- **CBA + Safaricom 2012 M-Shwari joint venture** (CBA pre-NCBA merger; M-Shwari Kenyan mobile money savings + microloan; distinctive Kenyan banking-mobile-money joint venture innovation).
- **NCBA-M-Shwari + Safaricom continuing partnership** distinctive Kenyan banking-mobile-money flagship (50M+ M-Shwari Kenyan + Tanzania + Côte d'Ivoire users).
- **1959 NIC Bank founding + 1962 CBA founding** → **Sep 30 2019 NCBA Bank merger** — distinctive Kenyan banking heritage + consolidation.

## Comparison

| Feature | NCBA Bank Kenya / Loop | [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) | [Absa Bank Kenya](https://docs.barcoder.ai/docs/wallets/absa-kenya) (post-2020 Barclays Kenya rebrand rival) | [Stanbic Bank Kenya](https://docs.barcoder.ai/docs/wallets/stanbic-kenya) (Standard Bank Group's Kenyan subsidiary; post-2008 CfC + Stanbic Kenya merger rival) |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Operator | **NCBA Group PLC (NSE: NCBA; UGX: NCBA; RSE: NCBA)** | Equity Group Holdings PLC (NSE: EQTY; USE: EBL; RSE: EQTY) | KCB Group PLC (NSE: KCB; RSE: KCB; USE: KCB) | Absa Bank Kenya PLC (NSE: ABSA) | Stanbic Holdings PLC (NSE: SBIC; Standard Bank Group ~75% controlling) |
| Type | **Post-Sep 30 2019 NIC Bank + Commercial Bank of Africa (CBA) merger + 5-country East + West African footprint + Loop distinctive Kenyan banking app pioneer + 2025 KES 23.4B profit after tax (+7% YoY) + CBA-Safaricom M-Shwari joint venture + 50M+ M-Shwari users (Kenya + Tanzania + Côte d'Ivoire)** | East and Central Africa's largest banking group by customer base + 10M+ Kenyan customers + 7-country East and Central African footprint + Equity Mobile app post-Mar 15 2024 Eazzy Banking migration + Equitel MVNO + Equity Agency Banking | Kenya #1 by assets + 6-country East African footprint + KCB Group Holdings parent | Post-2020 Barclays Kenya rebrand + Absa Group (South Africa) Kenyan subsidiary | Standard Bank Group's Kenyan subsidiary + post-2008 CfC + Stanbic Kenya merger + Stanbic Bank Kenya app late Jun/early Jul 2025 update + 4.63/5 iOS rating |
| Country | KE + 4+ countries East + West African | KE + 6+ countries East African + Central African | KE + 5+ countries East African | KE | KE |
| Distinctive | **1959 NIC Bank founding + 1962 CBA founding + Sep 30 2019 NCBA Bank merger (NIC + CBA); Nov 27 2012 CBA + Safaricom M-Shwari launch (distinctive Kenyan banking-mobile-money savings + microloan joint venture); 2020 NCBA Loop relaunch; Apr 2025 NCBA Loop New Mobile Banking App UX redesign; 2025 NCBA Group KES 23.4B profit after tax (+7% YoY); Kenyatta family + Ndegwa family co-controlling** | 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 | Post-2020 Barclays Kenya rebrand to Absa Kenya (Absa Group South African parent post-2018 Barclays Africa rebrand) | 1911 Standard Bank Group Kenyan branch opening (Stanbic Bank Kenya predecessor); 2008 CfC Bank + Stanbic Bank Kenya merger → Stanbic Holdings PLC |

## Status

**Active, Kenyan banking group post-Sep 30 2019 NIC Bank + Commercial Bank of Africa (CBA) merger + Loop distinctive Kenyan banking app pioneer** <sup>[1][1], [2][2], [3][3], [4][4]</sup>:
- **NCBA Group PLC (NSE: NCBA; UGX: NCBA; RSE: NCBA)** since 1959 NIC Bank founding + 1962 CBA founding + Sep 30 2019 NCBA Bank merger.
- **Loop distinctive Kenyan banking app pioneer + CBA-Safaricom M-Shwari partnership (50M+ M-Shwari users)**.
- **NCBA Group 2025 KES 23.4 billion profit after tax (+7% YoY from KES 21.9 billion in 2024)**.
- **5-country East + West African footprint**: Kenya + Uganda + Tanzania + Rwanda + Côte d'Ivoire.
- **CBK + multi-jurisdiction East African + West African regulators**.

## Sources

[1]: https://ncbagroup.com/ "NCBA Group — official"
[2]: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/NCBA_Bank_Kenya "NCBA Bank Kenya — Wikipedia"
[3]: https://chipuko.com/n-c-b-a-bank-account-review-benefits-fees-how-to-open "NCBA Bank Account Review 2025 — Chipuko Digital"
[4]: https://moseskemibaro.com/2025/04/20/loops-new-mobile-banking-app-user-experience-ux-a-seamless-user-centric-redesign-reviewed/ "Loop's New Mobile Banking App UX — Moses Kemibaro"
[ke-cro]: https://docs.barcoder.ai/docs/payments/KE

- [1] [NCBA Group — official][1]
- [2] [NCBA Bank Kenya — Wikipedia][2]
- [3] [NCBA Bank Account Review 2025 — Chipuko Digital][3]
- [4] [Loop's New Mobile Banking App UX — Moses Kemibaro][4]
- <sup>[Kenya report](https://docs.barcoder.ai/docs/payments/KE)</sup> In-corpus: `reports/countries/KE-kenya.md`

## Source

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