Absa Bank Kenya has launched La Riba Timiza, a fully mobile, Shariah-compliant banking platform, making it the first Tier-1 bank in the country to offer such an innovative solution.
In a simultaneous move, Absa Bank Kenya also unveiled the Absa La Riba Card, an everyday Shariah-compliant payment solution aimed at both individual and business users.
Together, these banking offerings mark a significant milestone in Absa Bank’s efforts to serve diverse financial needs of Kenyans while aligning with ethical banking standards.
Digital-First Islamic Banking
La Riba Timiza is tailored to offer customers the full benefits of Islamic banking from the convenience of their mobile devices.
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Through the Timiza mobile app or the USSD code *848#, customers can now:
• Make payments
• Access instant short-term financing
• Save toward specific goals
All these services are aligned with the principles of Islamic finance, particularly prohibition of interest (riba), and are structured on Murabaha, a cost-plus-profit model that promotes transparency and fairness in financial transactions.
Financial Inclusion
Absa Bank Kenya’s MD and CEO Abdi Mohamed reiterated the bank’s commitment to offering accessible and ethical financial solutions reflect values of its customers.
“We take great pride in being the first Bank in Kenya to pioneer Islamic banking 20 years ago, and now we are also the first Tier 1 Bank to launch a fully Shariah-compliant mobile banking service platform,” said Mohamed.
He added: “Our additional offerings under La Riba banking, which are rooted in Islamic values, provide a range of ethical, inclusive, and accessible financial solutions tailored to meet the needs of our Islamic customers.”
La Riba Card
The newly launched Absa La Riba Card extends everyday financial convenience to customers who are seeking interest-free solutions.
Key features:
• Unsecured financing limits
• Flexible repayment options
• Cashback rewards on local and international purchases
• Exclusive discounts with Visa swipes
• Access to international airport lounge
Built on the Murabaha principle and vetted by Absa Bank’s independent Shariah Board, the card reflects the bank’s serious commitment to ethical, compliant, and accessible banking.
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Beyond Muslim
While the products are tailored for Muslim consumers, Absa’s La Riba banking solutions are also open to non-Muslims who value transparency, ethics and interest-free financial models.
In recent years, Kenya’s Islamic banking has seen impressive growth and has been recognised by regulators and experts as an effective tool to expand access to finance.
Innovation Experience
The launch of La Riba Timiza and the La Riba Card comes just a year after the official opening of Absa’s flagship La Riba Centre at BBS Mall in Eastleigh, Nairobi.
Absa was the first in Kenya to introduce Shariah-compliant structured investment notes for premier clients, and Tawarruq, an unsecured personal lending option aligned with Islamic principles.
More than 80 per cent of Kenyans are digitally proficient and Absa’s expansion of ethical financial solutions via mobile banking eyes mobile-first, values-driven solutions that align with personal beliefs.
Ethical Banking
As financial institutions in Kenya revise how to embed values and inclusion into their services, Absa is setting the pace by integrating Shariah compliance into core digital services.
Absa Bank Kenya’s La Riba suite signals a shift by financial institutions in Kenya from one-size-fits-all models to customised, compliant, and community-driven solutions.
