Equity vs NCBA: which is right for you?
Equity and NCBA target overlapping but different customer profiles. Equity has the bigger base and pan-African reach. NCBA, formed from the NIC-CBA merger in 2019, owns the algorithmic infrastructure behind a huge slice of Kenyan mobile credit (M-Shwari, KCB M-PESA, Fuliza). The choice is between retail scale and digital-credit sophistication.
Equity Bank
bank,247247
Kenya's biggest bank by customer numbers, the original mass-market retail bank.
Detail pageNCBA Bank
bank,880100
The 2019 merger of NIC and CBA, with the Loop digital sub-brand and the back-end behind M-Shwari and KCB M-PESA.
Detail pageWhich is better for what
Quick guide by use case. Pick the row that matches your situation.
For everyday retail banking
Equity has more branches and a wider customer base, simpler to use day to day.
For someone already on M-Shwari, Fuliza, or KCB M-PESA
NCBA is on the back end of all three. Holding an NCBA account gives clearer visibility of the underlying credit.
For a young digital-first customer
NCBA's Loop is a digital-first sub-brand with a virtual card, in-app account opening, and budgeting tools, no branch required.
For a regional traveller
Equity operates in 6 African countries; NCBA is mostly Kenya-focused.
At a glance
| Equity | NCBA | |
|---|---|---|
| Sector | bank | bank |
| M-PESA paybill | 247247 | 880100 |
| Detail page | View | View |
Common questions
What is Equity Bank's M-PESA paybill?
Equity Bank's paybill is 247247. Account number is your bank account number.
What is NCBA Bank's M-PESA paybill?
NCBA's paybill is 880100. Account number is your bank account number.
Is NCBA the same as M-Shwari?
No, but NCBA is the licensed bank behind M-Shwari, KCB M-PESA, and Fuliza. Safaricom handles the customer interface; NCBA handles credit risk and licensing.
What is Loop by NCBA?
Loop is NCBA's digital-first sub-brand for younger customers. Account opening is fully in-app, with a virtual card and budgeting tools.
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