Africa’s Biggest Banks Target Kenya as Regional Expansion Hub

Africa’s biggest lenders are converging on Kenya, betting the country offers the best gateway into East Africa’s fast-growing but underbanked economies.

The impetus has come from new minimum-capital rules, which are forcing smaller Kenyan lenders to seek partners, creating a rare window for acquisitions. The opportunity is drawing interest from across the continent, particularly from South Africa’s biggest lenders, which are looking for growth beyond their sluggish home market.