Marketing, creative, and recruitment agencies in Kenya usually run a Kenyan shilling business account at an established bank for client receipts, payroll, and supplier payments, and add a foreign currency account or a receiving service such as Payoneer when they invoice overseas clients. M-Pesa is widely used for local collection and disbursement. Figures here are as of 14 June 2026.
Suits Agencies best
Depends on your billing; an established bank shilling account, with a foreign currency account or Payoneer for overseas clients.
Typical monthly fee
Varies by bank; some shilling business accounts advertise no monthly maintenance fee, others charge a monthly fee. Verify current pricing.
Non resident position
A business registered through the Business Registration Service and a company KRA PIN are required. Foreign owned agencies face enhanced checks. Verify with the provider.
Providers that fit
Three covered here
Fees and features as of 14 June 2026Last reviewed 14 June 2026
General information, not financial, legal, or tax advice. Verify current terms and eligibility with the provider before applying.
Agencies in Kenya usually pair a Kenyan shilling business account at an established bank such as Equity Bank or Co-operative Bank with a foreign currency account or a receiving service such as Payoneer for overseas client fees, and use M-Pesa for local collection and staff or freelancer payments. Compare account fees, foreign currency handling, and settlement. Information as of 14 June 2026, not advice.
What Agencies in Kenya need from a business account
Agencies bill clients, pay staff and freelancers, and manage project costs, so they need a business account that handles regular receipts and payments, supports invoicing and reconciliation, and where relevant receives foreign currency from overseas clients. The common setup in Kenya is a shilling current account at an established bank for day to day work, with a foreign currency account or a receiving service such as Payoneer for export of services, and M-Pesa for local collection and disbursement.
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Equity Bank
A widely used Kenyan business account with mobile and online banking, advertised with no monthly maintenance fee on some business accounts, suited to client receipts and payroll.
Best for
Agencies wanting a low cost shilling account
Monthly fee
No monthly maintenance fee advertised on some business accounts; verify current terms
An established bank offering shilling and foreign currency business accounts with branch, mobile, and online banking, suited to agencies handling both local and overseas clients.
Best for
Agencies needing a foreign currency account
Monthly fee
Monthly and transaction charges set by account type; verify current tariff
A cross border receiving service that lets agencies collect payments from overseas clients and marketplaces and withdraw to a Kenyan bank account, with per transaction pricing rather than a local current account.
Best for
Agencies invoicing overseas clients
Monthly fee
Per transaction and withdrawal pricing; verify current pricing
The international business account providers we compare do not confirm an account for companies registered in Kenya as of 14 June 2026. The providers listed above serve this market: established Kenyan banks such as Equity Bank, Co-operative Bank of Kenya, KCB, and NCBA, alongside cross border receiving services such as Payoneer where they fit this business type. Confirm current terms with each provider before applying.
Questions about banking for Agencies in Kenya
What account does an agency in Kenya need?
Agencies usually run a Kenyan shilling business account at an established bank for client receipts, payroll, and supplier payments, and add a foreign currency account or a receiving service such as Payoneer when they invoice overseas clients. As of 14 June 2026, not advice.
How do agencies in Kenya receive payments from overseas clients?
Common routes are a foreign currency account at a Kenyan bank or a cross border receiving service such as Payoneer that collects funds and withdraws to a local shilling account. As of 14 June 2026, confirm fees and settlement timing with the provider.
Can an agency use M-Pesa for business?
Yes. Many agencies use M-Pesa business products such as a Till or Paybill for local collection and disbursement alongside a bank account, with charges that vary by product. As of 14 June 2026, confirm current terms with the provider.
What does an agency pay in account fees in Kenya?
Fees depend on the bank and account type. Some shilling business accounts advertise no monthly maintenance fee, others charge a monthly fee, and transaction and foreign currency charges apply. As of 14 June 2026, confirm current pricing with each provider.
Fees, features, and eligibility change and vary by region. This page was last reviewed on 14 June 2026. Confirm current terms with the provider before applying.