(Nairobi) – Choice Bank has officially rebranded and unveiled a fully digital-first banking model at its new branch in Riverside Square, Nairobi, marking a decade of operations with a clear pivot toward technology-driven financial services.
The launch event, which celebrated the bank’s 10th anniversary, brought together key figures in the finance industry, including Nairobi Securities Exchange (NSE) Chair Kiprono Kittony. He praised the bank’s transformation and its forward-looking approach to financial innovation in Kenya’s fast-changing economic environment.
In his keynote speech, Chief Executive Officer Isinta Ombui described the rebranding as more than a milestone—it is a reinvention of the bank’s purpose and strategic direction in response to the growing importance of digital services in the economy.
“Today is not just a milestone—it’s a moment of reinvention,” Ombui told attendees. “We are proud to usher in the next chapter of banking in Kenya: digital-first, inclusive, and purpose-driven.”
Founded with a core mission to provide relationship-based microloans to underserved communities, Choice Bank has evolved significantly since its inception. The turning point came in 2021 when it received strategic investment from the Wakanda Network, a pan-African investment group that injected both capital and a continental vision into the bank’s growth.
With this support, Choice Bank implemented its proprietary core banking system in 2022 and became a member of the Kenya Bankers Association. These developments laid the foundation for the bank’s deeper integration into Kenya’s formal banking system and a broader reach across different market segments.
As part of its new digital-first strategy, the bank has identified several priority areas for growth and service delivery. These include financing for electric vehicles (EVs), launching a Kenya–China Corridor Desk to facilitate trade and investment, promoting inclusive asset financing, offering API-driven Banking-as-a-Service (BaaS), and supporting youth employment through workforce development programs.
Ombui emphasized that these initiatives are designed to align with Kenya’s national economic agenda. “We are fully aligned with the President’s Bottom-Up Economic Transformation Agenda,” he said. “This is about ensuring that technology, capital, and credit reach those who need it most.”
The digital-first approach is also intended to improve financial access for groups historically underserved by traditional banking institutions, including small businesses, informal sector workers, and youth.
Industry observers say the shift reflects broader trends across Kenya’s banking sector, where increasing mobile phone penetration, improved internet access, and customer demand for convenience are driving digital transformation.