Credit Bank Explores Stablecoin Integration with Anzens to Cut Cross-Border Payment Costs

The traditional banking system has a speed limit that no longer matches the pace of Kenyan commerce. While local digital payments have reached near-instant speeds, crossing a border still feels like stepping back into the nineteenth century. Credit Bank PLC is attempting to bypass this friction entirely. Through a new exploratory partnership with fintech firm Anzens, the bank is testing a dollar-backed stablecoin called USDA to act as a permanent bridge for international trade.

A New Layer for Local Banking

This initiative treats blockchain as a boring but highly efficient piece of plumbing. By integrating the USDA stablecoin directly into its core services, Credit Bank aims to allow customers to convert Kenyan shillings or US dollars into digital units directly from their existing accounts.

The most immediate impact is in the place that matters most:the price tag. Standard international transfers often carry a heavy burden of intermediary fees and opaque exchange rates, sometimes totaling 8% of the transaction. The Credit Bank and Anzens model proposes a flat 1.5% fee. In a market where margins are thin, that difference is the gap between a viable export business and a failing one.

Anzens CEO Shantnoo Saxsena notes that a merchant in Nairobi trading with partners in Dubai or Mumbai should not have to wait a week for funds to clear. By using regulated stablecoin infrastructure, those same settlements can happen in minutes. Credit Bank retains its role as the custodian, ensuring that every digital unit is backed by actual fiat reserves.

Redefining Digital Assets

Credit Bank CEO Betty Korir argues that stablecoins should be viewed as settlement infrastructure rather than volatile assets. This distinction is critical as the bank engages with the Central Bank of Kenya to ensure the project meets rigorous regulatory standards.

The ambition extends beyond simple payments. Through Yeshara, an entity within the Capital Markets Authority’s regulatory sandbox, the USDA infrastructure is being positioned to handle tokenized real-world assets. This could eventually allow for the seamless purchase of commodities or real estate using the same digital settlement layer.

The Regulatory Horizon

Currently in its exploratory phase, the project’s success hinges on the green light from the CBK. If it proceeds, it would represent one of the first times a Kenyan commercial bank has successfully bridged the gap between traditional fiat ledgers and blockchain-based settlement. For the local business community, the result could be a financial system that finally moves as fast as their ambitions.