Pakistani lender Bank AL Habib has announced that it will shut down operations in Kenya from Thursday, May 15, 2025, marking the end of its seven-year presence in the country.

“Bank AL Habib Limited ("BAHL") hereby notifies its customers, the general public, stakeholders, and all interested parties that BAHL shall close down its Representative Office in Kenya with effect from May 15, 2025,” said the bank in a statement on Monday, May 5.

BAHL which is headquartered in Pakistan, was granted authority by CBK in April 2018 to establish a representative office in Kenya. The bank said its exit from Kenya follows approval from the Central Bank of Kenya (CBK).

“This follows approval from the Central Bank of Kenya (CBK) on April 30, 2025, in line with the Banking Act (Cap. 488, Laws of Kenya) and Prudential Guidelines issued thereunder,” the bank’s chief representative said in the statement.

According to the Pakistani-based financial institution, the closure follows a strategic review by its Board and a global restructuring aimed at improving operational efficiency. The changes are also aimed at consolidating its international operations.

“Closure of the Representative Office follows a strategic review undertaken by the Board of Directors of BAHL and is part of a broader global restructuring initiative aimed at consolidating international operations and improving overall operational efficiency.”

The bank confirmed that the CBK had officially approved the closure on April 30, 2025, in accordance with the Banking Act (Cap. 488, Laws of Kenya) and relevant Prudential Guidelines.

“The BAHL-Representative Office has since operated in compliance with applicable legal and regulatory requirements,” it added.

The bank thanked its customers and the Kenyan public for their continued support during its presence in the country.
“We take this opportunity to sincerely thank all our customers, stakeholders, partners, and the Kenyan public for their continued support during our presence in Kenya,” BAHL added.

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