NAIROBI – Bank Al-Habib Limited (BAHL), a Pakistani commercial lender, has officially shut down its operations in Kenya. The Central Bank of Kenya (CBK) confirmed the bank’s exit, stating that its local license was canceled after the bank wound up its Nairobi-based representative office in May.
CBK announced the decision in a notice released Monday, clarifying that BAHL’s closure took effect on May 15, 2025.
“This exit follows a strategic decision by BAHL to rationalize its foreign operations,” CBK stated.
The bank, which is headquartered in Karachi, Pakistan, received approval to operate a representative office in Kenya on April 9, 2018. Since then, BAHL has maintained a presence in the country primarily for marketing and relationship-building purposes on behalf of its parent company and global affiliates.
According to CBK, the Nairobi office did not conduct banking transactions such as taking deposits or offering loans. It operated strictly as a liaison post for international trade finance and customer relationship management.
Bank Al-Habib offers retail and corporate banking services and supports cross-border trade finance across various markets. The move to close its Kenya office is part of the bank’s broader strategy to restructure and streamline international activities.
CBK did not report any regulatory concerns linked to the bank’s departure. The office’s closure does not affect local depositors or loan clients, as BAHL was not authorized to handle such services in Kenya.
BAHL’s exit narrows the list of foreign institutions with non-operational licenses in Kenya’s banking sector. CBK has continued to push for greater transparency and stricter compliance standards among both domestic and international players in the financial services industry.
