NCBA Bank is cementing its position as a technological leader in East and Central Africa, reporting significant milestones in its long-term “Change the Story” transformation agenda.
Following a series of strategic investments in cloud infrastructure and automation, the bank has become the first in the region to achieve dual ISO certification for data security and privacy.
The bank’s aggressive digital adoption strategy has effectively transformed its operational backbone, leveraging a high-performance, distributed core banking system supported by private cloud infrastructure.
This technological pivot is designed to handle increasing transaction volumes while maintaining the agility required to serve a rapidly growing customer base.
Automating Efficiency
A centerpiece of this transformation has been “Project ZERO,” a strategic initiative aimed at streamlining internal operations through Robotic Process Automation (RPA).
By deploying automated bots to handle high-volume, repetitive tasks, ranging from financial crime detection to complex reporting, the bank has successfully automated 44 key business processes.
According to the bank’s internal reporting, these efficiencies have resulted in a remarkable saving of 91,000 man-hours, allowing staff to shift their focus toward higher-value client engagements.
Empowering Customers Through Digital Tools
NCBA has extended its digital-first approach directly to its customers, launching a suite of specialized platforms designed to reduce transaction friction:
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ConnectPlus: Powered by Intellect’s wholesale banking technology, this cloud-based corporate platform provides businesses with real-time liquidity management and secure, mobile-accessible transaction processing.
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NCBA Now: The bank’s flagship mobile application, which serves as an omnichannel hub for personal banking, payments, and investment services.
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Smart SACCO Solutions: An automated reconciliation tool that offers SACCOs pre-validation of collections and real-time API notifications, significantly reducing manual administrative workloads.
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Soma Plus: A dedicated platform built to streamline the administrative and financial management of educational institutions.
A Commitment to Data Sovereignty
In February 2026, the bank solidified its reputation for data governance by achieving dual certification from the British Standards Institution (BSI): ISO/IEC 27001 for Information Security Management and ISO/IEC 27701 for Privacy Information Management.
“Attaining these dual ISO certifications is a significant milestone in our continuous journey to strengthen information security within our operations,” said Isaac Owilla, NCBA Group Director for Technology and Operations. “Our customers can be assured that we uphold the highest standards in security, service management, and regulatory compliance.”
The bank prioritized its Kenyan operations for the initial certification phase, as the country accounts for approximately 80% of the Group’s technology functions.
Management has confirmed that plans are already underway to extend these rigorous security standards to its subsidiaries in Tanzania, Rwanda, and its fintech arm, Loop DFS.
Looking Ahead
As NCBA transitions into 2026, the integration of AI-driven security and predictive data analytics remains a priority.
By utilizing advanced database technology, such as GaussDB, the bank is positioning itself to process complex financial data more efficiently.
These digital advancements represent more than just internal updates; they are the foundation of a broader strategy to support Kenya’s evolving digital economy, ensuring that as the bank scales, its infrastructure remains stable, secure, and ready for the next generation of financial services.