CBK Adds Another Lender To The Already Saturated Market

The Central Bank of Kenya (CBK) has announced the licensing of DIB Bank Kenya Limited (DIB) adding to the list of more than 40 banks in the market that has been said to be over-banked.

According to the statement from CBK, the license has been granted under Sections 4 and 5 of the Banking Act after fulfillment of the stipulated requirements. DIB intends to exclusively offer Shariah compliant banking services in Kenya.

DIB Bank Kenya Limited becomes the third fully Shariah compliant bank to be licensed in Kenya after Gulf African Bank Limited in 2007 and First Community Bank Limited in 2008.

DIB is a fully owned subsidiary of Dubai Islamic Bank PJSC (DIB PJSC) of the United Arab Emirates (UAE). DIB PJSC founded in 1975 is the first bank to have incorporated the principles of Islam in all its practices and is the largest Islamic Bank in the UAE.

DIB PJSC as at September 2016 had an asset base of USD47.6 billion (Ksh.4, 855 billion) and capital of USD7.4 billion (Ksh.754.8 billion).

The lender has a presence in Bosnia, Indonesia, Pakistan, Sudan, Turkey, and UAE. DIB PJSC’s entry into Kenya is anchored on its strategic focus on enhancing its international presence. Its business model is underpinned by excellence in customer service, innovation, growth and consistent employee engagement.

“CBK welcomes the entry of international brands such as DIB into the Kenyan banking sector. DIBs entry will expand the offerings in the market, particularly in the nascent Shariah compliant banking niche. This also signifies the first entry of a UAE bank in Kenya to support the long-standing economic ties between Kenya and the UAE. DIB’s choice of Kenya as its entry point into Sub-Saharan Africa signals Kenya’s growing stature as a premier regional financial services hub,” stated the statement from the Central Bank of Kenya.