Absa Bank Kenya has officially stepped into the custody services space. This move shows the bank’s ambition to become a key player in facilitating secure, compliant and tech-enabled investment solutions for institutional clients across Kenya and beyond its borders.
Themed “Aligning to the Future of Investments,” the launch event brought together key stakeholders including pension fund managers, trustees, Saccos, insurance firms, regulators, and capital markets experts. The goal is to explore how evolving financial landscapes, technologies, and investor needs are reshaping how institutions manage and safeguard their assets.
Custody services often operate behind the scenes, but they are critical in the investment machinery. Absa’s offering will include:
- Asset safekeeping and servicing
- Settlement for local and cross-border investments
- Compliance reporting and corporate action execution
- Portfolio reconciliations and detailed, timely reports
The service targets a range of institutional investors including fund managers (both CIS and gratuity funds), pension trustees, life insurers, Saccos, and even Shariah-compliant investment schemes.
According to James Agin, Managing Executive of Corporate and Investment Banking at Absa Kenya, this move is not just about filling a service gap but about helping clients access smarter, more strategic investment infrastructure.
“Custody services have taken a back seat in the financial sector for a long time,” he said. “But this is changing. Today, they are emerging as a key bridge between investors and innovation, and we’re here to help our clients cross that bridge.”
Through partnerships with established global custodians like BNY Mellon, State Street, and Societe Generale, Absa is giving Kenyan institutions access to international markets and investment instruments.
The bank’s Euroclear infrastructure licence unlocks a pathway for clients to explore alternative investments like Eurobonds, offshore securities, and commodities—including Absa’s own gold ETF, the only listed commodity on the Nairobi Securities Exchange.
Absa is also keeping an eye on the future of digital finance. The bank is aligning its services with Kenya’s draft Virtual Assets Policy and the proposed VASP Bill. It is prepared to offer secure custody for virtual assets when regulations allow.
Kenya joins South Africa and Mauritius as markets where Absa’s custody services are active. The bank plans to expand into Uganda and Ghana before the end of the year—reinforcing its vision to become a pan-African partner in investment innovation.
“We’re investing not just in tech, but in trust, security, and access—things that matter deeply to the investors shaping Africa’s financial future,” Mr. Agin added.
As financial institutions across Africa look for smarter, more resilient ways to manage funds and unlock global capital, Absa’s move into custody services feels both timely and strategic.
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