×
App Icon
The Standard e-Paper
Truth Without Fear
★★★★ - on Play Store
Download Now

Banks defy digital tide to court rural borrowers

Vocalize Pre-Player Loader

Audio By Vocalize

From left: Shameer Patel, Mary Githinji, Rev. Erick Kalya, H.E. Isaiah Keter, Oliver Kirior and Stanley Gachoki cut a cake during the opening of the I&M Bank Kapsabet branch on September 4, 2025.

Kenya's banks are expanding rural branches despite global closures, chasing micro, small and medium enterprise and farm lending in a shift from the digitalonly focus seen elsewhere.

Premium Article

Get Full Access for Ksh299/Week.

Uncover the stories others won't tell. Subscribe now for exclusive access.
Continue Reading  →
What you get
  • Unlimited access to all premium content
  • Ad-free browsing experience
  • Mobile-optimised reading
  • Weekly newsletters & digests
Pay via
M - PESA
VISA
Airtel Money
Secure Payments Kenya's most trusted newsroom since 1902
By Esther Dianah 53 mins ago
Enterprise
Why AI is gaining prominence in Africa's new investment agenda
Enterprise
New push to formalise garbage collection SMEs
Opinion
The power of patience, psychology and strategy in debt recovery
Enterprise
Motivational speakers: When they sell you false business hopes