Banking Circular No 7 of 2015 - Change of the Kenya Banks' Reference Rate (KBRR)

BANKI KUU YA KENYA
CENTRAL BANK OF KENYA

Haile Selassie Avenue
P.O. Box 60000-00200 Nairobi, Kenya
Telephone: 2860000, Fax: 340192

BANKING CIRCULAR NO. 7 OF 2015

TO: ALL CHIEF EXECUTIVES OF COMMERCIAL BANKS AND MORTGAGE FINANCE COMPANIES

CHANGE OF THE KENYA BANKS' REFERENCE RATE

Following the Monetary Policy Committee meeting held on 7th July 2015, which raised the Central Bank Rate from 10.0 percent to 11.50 percent, and considering the weighted 2-month moving average of the 91-day Treasury bill rate, the Central Bank of Kenya (CBK) has revised the Kenya Banks' Reference Rate (KBRR) from 8.54 percent to 9.87 percent.

The purpose of this Circular is to notify you of the following:-

1. The revised KBRR of 9.87 percent is effective from 7th July 2015 until its next review.
2. All banks and mortgage finance companies are required to price their flexible rate loans using the KBRR as the base rate.
3. For individual banks, the interest rate they charge their customers is KBRR + K.
4. As indicated in the Banking Circular No. 4 of 2014, existing flexible/variable credit facilities were transitioned to the KBRR framework by 30th June 2015. As a result, all flexible/variable credit facilities are now subject to KBRR.
5. The obligations of institutions to disclose to their customers and report to the Central Bank on their risk premiums (K) above KBRR stands.

The CBK will continue working closely with the banks and other stakeholders to facilitate a smooth and effective implementation of the KBRR framework. It will also work with the stakeholders to facilitate the wide dissemination of information on the framework to the public.

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MATU MUGO
ASSISTANT DIRECTOR, BANK SUPERVISION

7th July, 2015

Cc. Mr. Habil Olaka
Chief Executive Officer
Kenya Bankers Association
International Life House
Mama Ngina Street
NAIROBI

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