Send Money To Kenya

Personal
Business
From
United States Flag
United States
USD
To
Kenya Flag
Kenya
KES
1 USD equals
147.35 KES
Updated on September 21, 2023
 
How much to transfer?
$1-$1k
$1k-$10k
$10k +
Provider
Features
Fees
Score
Speed
Transfer Now
Currencies Direct Logo
  • Check Icon
    Forward contracts and limit orders
  • Check Icon
    Scheduled transfers
  • Check Icon
    Travel money solutions for residents of the UK
  • Check Icon
    Multilingual website
$
$
$

low

Fees
84
Speed Icon

medium

2-3 days

Less Information
+

Transfer Options

  • Bank transfer
  • Debit card

Features

  • Check Icon
    Forward contracts and limit orders
  • Check Icon
    Scheduled transfers
  • Check Icon
    Travel money solutions for residents of the UK
  • Check Icon
    Multilingual website

Support

  • Phone
Support
Phone Icon
Phone
$
$
$

low

Fees
Speed Icon

medium

2-3 days

Best For

  • Circle Check Icon
    Schedule transfers easily
  • Circle Check Icon
    Make use of hedging tools
  • Circle Check Icon
    Accepts customers from most countries
  • Circle Check Icon
    Cannot sign up from all states in the U.S.

XE Money Transfer Logo
  • Check Icon
    Fee-free transfers
  • Check Icon
    Competitive exchanges rates
  • Check Icon
    Limit orders
  • Check Icon
    Multilingual website and customer service
$
$
$

low

Fees
71
Speed Icon

medium

2-3 days

Less Information
+

Transfer Options

  • Bank Transfer
  • BPAY (Australia)

Features

  • Check Icon
    Fee-free transfers
  • Check Icon
    Competitive exchanges rates
  • Check Icon
    Limit orders
  • Check Icon
    Multilingual website and customer service

Support

  • Phone
Support
Phone Icon
Phone
$
$
$

low

Fees
Speed Icon

medium

2-3 days

Best For

  • Circle Check Icon
    No fees for personal transfers
  • Circle Check Icon
    Accepts payments in several currencies
  • Circle Check Icon
    Target specific rates using limit orders
  • Circle Check Icon
    No debit or credit card payments
  • Circle Check Icon
    No scheduled transfers

WorldRemit Logo
  • Check Icon
    Bank account transfers and cash transfers
  • Check Icon
    Mobile airtime and mobile wallets top up
  • Check Icon
    Home delivery of transferred funds
  • Check Icon
    Multicurrency WorldRemit Wallet
  • Check Icon
    Multilingual website
$
$
$

medium

Fees
63
Speed Icon

fast

1-2 days

Less Information
+
Promo Offer Available
Three free transfers for new customers! Check out the WorldRemit promo guide for more info.

Transfer Options

  • Bank Transfer
  • Debit / Credit card
  • Google / Apply Pay
  • POLi (Australia)

Features

  • Check Icon
    Bank account transfers and cash transfers
  • Check Icon
    Mobile airtime and mobile wallets top up
  • Check Icon
    Home delivery of transferred funds
  • Check Icon
    Multicurrency WorldRemit Wallet
  • Check Icon
    Multilingual website

Support

  • Phone
Support
Phone Icon
Phone
$
$
$

medium

Fees
Speed Icon

fast

1-2 days

Best For

  • Circle Check Icon
    Transfers to cash pickup locations
  • Circle Check Icon
    Transparent rates and fees
  • Circle Check Icon
    Low minimum transfer amount
  • Circle Check Icon
    No hedging tools
  • Circle Check Icon
    No scheduled transfers

Wise Logo
  • Check Icon
    Transparent fee structure
  • Check Icon
    Send money to email addresses
  • Check Icon
    Multicurrency account with debit card
  • Check Icon
    Multilingual website & app
$
$
$

low

Fees
75
Speed Icon

fast

1-2 days

Less Information
+

Transfer Options

  • Bank Transfer
  • Credit Card
  • Debit Card
  • Country specific alternatives

Features

  • Check Icon
    Transparent fee structure
  • Check Icon
    Send money to email addresses
  • Check Icon
    Multicurrency account with debit card
  • Check Icon
    Multilingual website & app

Support

  • Phone
Support
Phone Icon
Phone
$
$
$

low

Fees
Speed Icon

fast

1-2 days

Best For

  • Circle Check Icon
    User friendly mobile app
  • Circle Check Icon
    Multi-currency account
  • Circle Check Icon
    Travel debit card
  • Circle Check Icon
    No scheduled transfers
  • Circle Check Icon
    No dedicated account manager

Payoneer Logo
    $
    $
    $

    high

    Fees
    71
    Speed Icon

    medium

    2-3 days

    Less Information
    +

    Transfer Options

    • Bank transfer
    • Debit card
    • Credit card
    • Bank debit

    Features

      Support

      • Phone
      Support
      Phone Icon
      Phone
      $
      $
      $

      high

      Fees
      Speed Icon

      medium

      2-3 days

      Best For


      How to send money to Kenya

      How To Step Icon
      Step 1
      Evaluate the competition before signing up
      Evaluate the competition before signing up
      Evaluate the top competitors as there are numerous companies that send money to Kenya. Take your specific requirements into account to select the best alternative. 
      Sign up, either as an individual or a business.
      Include your contact information and details from a valid identity document.
      How To Step Icon
      Step 2
      Confirm the transfer after looking at exchange rates
      Confirm the transfer after looking at exchange rates
      Review historical KES exchange rates against your home currency to understand recent rate fluctuations.
      Get a rate quote from your service provider and enter the transfer amount.
      Lock the rate on offer and give the recipient's Kenyan bank account details.
      How To Step Icon
      Step 3
      Making your payment, keeping track
      Making your payment, keeping track
      Most companies accept payments via bank account transfers.
      Your service provider will transfer money to Kenya upon receiving your payment.
      Tracking capabilities tend to come in the form of online updates and text notifications.

      Currency Symbol and Swift Codes

      The Kenyan shilling (KES) has been the official currency of Kenya since 1966, when it replaced the East African shilling. It is denoted using the “KSh” symbol. One Kenyan shilling is divided into 100 cents. The exchange rate of Kenyan shilling to U.S. dollar saw a significant drop from mid-2011 to around mid-2015.

      If you want to send money to a bank account in Kenya, you will need the receiving bank’s SWIFT code. Here are SWIFT codes of some popular banks in the region.

      BANKBRANCHSWIFT CODE
      KCB BankNairobiKCBLKENXXXX
      Equity BankNairobiEQBLKENAXXX
      Standard CharteredNairobiSCBLKENXXXX
      BarclaysNairobiBARCKENXXXX

       

      Case Study

      Clement moved to the UK to study, and he continued living in the country after his education was over because he found a desirable job. During one of his visits to Kenya, he decided to purchase a house there. After making the required down payment, he needed to start making monthly payments toward the mortgage he got from a Kenyan bank. As a result, he had to transfer money to Kenya every month. He compared the services of a prominent bank in the UK with a leading money transfer company and this is what he found.

       BANKMONEY TRANSFER SERVICE
      Exchange rateGBP 1 = KES 135.8468GBP 1 = KES 141.7837
      Transfer feeGBP 20GBP 0
      Amount received for GBP 2,000KES 268,976.66KES 283.567.40
      Transfer time2 to 5 days2 to 3 days
      Transfer optionsBank accountBank account
      Difference of KES 14,590.74

      Using the services of the money transfer company instead of the bank ensured that Clement received a better British pound to Kenyan shilling exchange rate. In addition, the company he selected gave him the ability to lock in exchange rates for up to six months, and he could also schedule transfers according to his convenience.

       

      Cash Pickup Locations in Kenya

      When transferring money to Kenya quickly is your top priority, consider turning to an overseas money transfer company such as MoneyGram, WorldRemit, Ria, or Western Union. Given below are addresses of a few cash pickup locations in Kenya.

      RIA MONEY TRANSFER IN KENYA 
      Nairobi Moi Avenue Branch Guilders Building, Opposite Ebrahim S Supermarket, NaorbiRiver Road Branch, Country Hotel Along Kamae Road, Nairobi
      Kisumu Branch, Imperial Express Hotel, Oginga Odinga Odinga Road, KisumuMalindi Kenya Post Office Savings Bank, Malindi Business Complex, Malindi
      WORLDREMIT IN KENYA 
      Nairobi KCB Bank, Biashara Street, NairobiUAE Exchange Shop No: 12, Diamond Plaza Annex, Masari Road Parklands, Nairobi
      Kisumu KCB Bank, Inside Kisumu airport, KisumuMalindi KCB Bank, Lamu Road, Malindi

       

      Safety Tips for Picking Up Cash in Kenya

      If you want to collect money from a physical location, try doing so in a bank or a shopping complex. If the transfer involves a large sum, exercise due caution and consider taking someone your trust along. Avoid carrying a lot of money and wearing expensive watches or jewelry.

      Instances of bag snatching are common in and around airports, railway stations, and bus terminals. Carjacking, muggings, armed robberies, and kidnappings are common in larger cities such as Nairobi and Mombasa. Slums in the bigger cities are prone to higher crime rates, so avoid them when possible.

      If you are under threat, do not resist. Do not walk around at night, especially in secluded areas. There have been instances of thieves posing as private security guards or police officers, so ask for identification if approached by any. Do not accept food or beverages from strangers.

       

      What Information Do I Need to Transfer Money to Kenya?

      The information you need to provide when transferring money to Kenya depends on the transfer method you choose.

      • Transfer to bank account. You will need the recipient’s complete name, a bank account number, the receiving bank’s name, and the bank’s SWIFT code.
      • Transfer to cash pickup location. You need to provide the recipient’s complete name along with the location of a desired cash pickup center. The recipient will get the money by presenting a valid form of photo ID and a reference number.

       

      Regulations When Transferring Money To and From Kenya

      The Central Bank of Kenya functions as the country’s monetary authority. It monitors the country’s financial systems and also works in maintaining the Kenyan shilling’s stability. Since the Kenyan shilling is completely convertible, it is easy to transfer money to and from Kenya.

      While there are no restrictions on cross-border money transfers to and from Kenya, transfers that exceed KES 500,000 are reported to the country’s custom authorities. If you are leaving Kenya, you may carry up to KES 100,000 in cash at one time.

      As a founding member of the East African Community (EAC), Kenya may adopt a common currency in the near future.

      Convert USD to KES

      Check out the historical exchange rates for the last thirty days. Learn how much you can save by using a global money transfer company instead of the big banks.
      USD
      KES
      Sending money online through specialist money transfer companies.

      Expect to receive between Ksh14587.65 and Ksh14676.06 when sending money from USD to KES at today's exchange rate.

      Compare that to sending money overseas through retail banks. Expect to receive approximately Ksh13998.25, not including additional banking fees. That is an average saving of Ksh633.6.
      Currency exchange rate in the last 30 days

      Need more information?

      Read useful guides on international remittance and more detailed reviews on the best money transfer services.

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