Bank Supervision

One of the Central Bank of Kenya’s mandates is to foster the liquidity, solvency and proper functioning of a market-based financial system. This is achieved through the following:

•    Developing appropriate laws, regulations and guidelines that govern the players in the banking sector.
•    Continuous review of the banking sector laws, regulations and guidelines to ensure that they remain relevant to the operating environment. These include the Banking Act (Cap 488), Microfinance Act (2006), Central Bank of Kenya Act (Cap 491) and Prudential Guidelines and Regulations issued thereunder.
•    Licensing banks, non-bank financial institutions, mortgage finance companies, credit reference bureaus, foreign exchange bureaus, money remittance providers and microfinance banks.
•    Inspection of commercial banks, microfinance banks,  non-bank financial institutions, mortgage finance companies, building societies, credit reference bureaus, foreign exchange bureaus, money remittance providers and representative offices of foreign banks to ensure that they comply with all the relevant laws, regulations and guidelines and protect the interests of depositors and other users of the banking sector.
•    Analysis of financial reports and other returns from banking sector players to  ensure compliance with the relevant laws, regulations and guidelines.
•     Contributing towards initiatives that promote financial inclusion.

As at the end of June 2016, out of the 43 institutions, 39 commercial banks and the sole mortgage finance institution are privately owned while the Kenya Government holds controlling stakes in the remaining 3 commercial banks. Twenty-four of the 39 privately owned banks and the one mortgage finance institution are locally owned (i.e. their controlling shareholders are domiciled in Kenya), while 15 are foreign owned. The ownership structure of licensed commercial banks and mortgage finance institutions is as depicted in the chart below.

The Microfinance Act 2006 and the Microfinance (Deposit Taking Institutions) Regulations 2008 set out the legal, regulatory and supervisory framework for the microfinance industry in Kenya. The Microfinance Act 2006 became operational with effect from May 2, 2008.

The principal object of the Microfinance Act 2006 is to regulate the establishment, business and operations of deposit taking microfinance institutions in Kenya through licensing and supervision. The Act enables microfinance banks (MFBs) licensed by the Central Bank of Kenya to mobilise deposits from the general public, thus promoting savings, competition, efficiency and financial access.

As financial intermediaries, MFBs play a complimentary role to commercial banks, as opposed to being competitors, by offering a vital service channel to the significant proportion of the population in Kenya that lacks access to commercial banks. The microfinance industry therefore plays a pivotal role in deepening financial markets and enhancing access to financial services by a significant proportion of the population.

Forex Bureaus in Kenya were established and first licensed in January 1995 to foster competition in the foreign exchange market and to narrow the exchange rate spread in the market.

As authorised dealers, forex bureaus conduct business and are regulated under the provisions of the sections 33A to 33(O) of the Central Bank of Kenya Act (Cap 491) and Forex Bureau Guidelines issued thereunder.

Section 31(4) of the Banking Act, mandates the Central Bank to licence and supervise credit reference bureaus (CRB). The Credit Reference Bureau Regulations, 2013, govern the licensing, operation and supervision of CRBs by the Central Bank of Kenya.

Background

The Kenyan banking sector was, particularly in the 1980s and 1990s, saddled with significant non-performing loans (NPLs), which led to the collapse of some financial institutions. One of the major contributors to this state of affairs were “serial defaulters,” who thrived in the “information asymmetry” environment that prevailed due to lack of a credit information sharing mechanism amongst financial institutions.

The development of a sustainable information sharing mechanism is recognised as a key component in improving the efficiency of financial intermediation. Towards this objective, banking sector stakeholders came together in 2008 and developed the Banking (Credit Reference Bureau) Regulations 2008, which governed the sharing of credit information on borrowers between providers of credit. Regulations initially provided for the sharing of only negative information. However, in 2013 revised CRB Regulations were issued that provided for the sharing of full file information (i.e. both positive and negative).

Benefits to the customer
•    A credit report makes it easier for good customers to distinguish themselves from persistent defaulters, thereby attracting favourable loan terms.
•    Financial institutions have online access to credit reports generated by the CRBs, resulting in reduced paperwork for the customer and faster processing of loans.
•    By making credit histories more portable, customers are able to easily switch between financial institutions and thereby take advantage of competition to secure better credit terms.

Benefits to Credit Providers/Lenders
•    CIS strengthens the credit risk management processes for financial institutions.
•    It facilitates faster and more efficient reviews of customers’ credit or loan applications.

Benefits to the economy
•    CIS creates an opportunity for a wider cross section of the population to access credit, particularly those with no access to tangible collateral.
•    It is expected to reduce lending transaction costs while widely availing credit through reduced cost of credit and enhanced competition.

Key Highlights of the Credit Reference Bureau Regulations 2013
•    A customer shall be entitled to a free copy of his credit report from a Bureau at least once per year.
•    The consent of a customer is required for the submission or sharing of credit information, and such consent may be obtained by the customer signing any document giving express consent or authorisation for the sharing of credit information.
•    A financial institution licensed under the Banking Act or Microfinance Act is required to submit both positive and negative credit information to CRBs on a monthly basis.
•    A Bureau may, with the approval of the Central Bank, collect, receive, collate, compile and disseminate information relating to a customer of an institution that is obtained from a third party.
•    Financial institutions have a duty to provide accurate credit information to CRBs.
•    A customer has a right to dispute information contained in a credit report.

Non Bank Financial Institutions

Non Bank Financial Institutions (NBFI) are licensed under the Banking Act and are obligated to comply with all requirements applying to banks subject to any stipulated conditions. Currently, there are no NBFIs licensed in Kenya.

Building Societies

Building Societies are licensed under the Building Societies Act by the Registrar of Building Societies. In their day to day operations, however, they are overseen by the Central Bank. Currently there are no licensed Building Societies in Kenya.

The CBK Risk Based Supervisory (RBS) framework is designed to allow CBK  conduct high-quality supervision as the financial sector develops and as risk profiles of institutions change in reaction to competitive forces. The enhanced supervisory regime seeks to promote competition, safety and soundness of the financial sector. This approach benefits institutions as regulatory efforts are more focused on high-risk areas and provides for more efficient supervision. Risk based supervision is an approach that places strong emphasis on understanding and assessing the adequacy of each institution’s risk management systems which are expected to identify, measure, monitor and control risk in an appropriate and timely manner.

The framework enables CBK to be more proactive and better positioned to pre-empt any serious threat to the stability of the financial system from current or emerging risks. The assessment of the effectiveness of risk management has become even more important as new technologies, product innovation, regional expansion,  the size and speed of financial transactions have changed the nature of the banking sector. The principal benefits of the risk based supervisory approach are:

•    Better evaluation of risks through separate assessment of inherent risks and risk management processes.
•    Greater emphasis on early identification of emerging risks and system-wide issues.
•    Cost effective use of resources through a sharper focus on risk.
•    Reporting of risk focused assessments to institutions.

The Central Bank of Kenya’s RBS methodology is dynamic and will continue to be enhanced in line with international best practice and developments in the local, regional and international arena.