Custodial Business

Safeguard, settle and administer your investments with DTB Custody Services in Kenya. DTB supports local and foreign individuals, pension schemes, asset managers, insurers, SACCOs and corporate investors with regulated safekeeping, CDS account services, securities settlement, corporate-action processing and investment reporting across capital and money-market instruments.

Overview

When you invest in shares, government securities, corporate debt or money-market instruments, you need more than an investment decision - you also need secure asset records, accurate settlement, income collection and independent reporting.

Diamond Trust Bank Kenya Limited (DTBK) provides custodial services for investors and institutions participating in Kenya's capital and money markets. DTB is a licensed as an Authorized Depository (Custodian) by the Capital Markets Authority (CMA), licensed by the Central Depository & Settlement Corporation (CDSC) as a Central Depository Agent (CDA), and registered/licensed by the Retirement Benefits Authority (RBA).

DTB's custody role focuses on safekeeping and administration of investment assets and the transactions relating to those assets. Investment selection and portfolio-management decisions remain the responsibility of the investor or appointed investment manager, as applicable.

What are Custody Services?

Custody services are regulated banking and asset-servicing services used to safeguard and administer investments on behalf of an investor or institution. A custodian maintains records of the assets held, supports settlement when securities are bought or sold, processes investment income and corporate actions, and provides cash and asset reporting.

DTB's custody services cover capital and money-market instruments including fixed deposits, Treasury bills, Treasury bonds, corporate bonds, commercial paper and equities. This can help investors separate the safekeeping and administration of assets from the investment-management or brokerage function, supporting stronger controls, transparency and record keeping.

Services Offered

Central Depository Services (CDS):
- Facilitation and maintenance of depository accounts with the Central Depository & Settlement Corporation (CDSC) and the Central Bank of Kenya (CBK), as applicable to the investment.
- Safekeeping and record maintenance for investment assets held on behalf of the customer.
Settlement Services:
- Settlement of equity trades on behalf of customers.
- Settlement of government securities transactions.
- Settlement of corporate debt transactions.
- Coordination of the movement of securities and cash according to valid settlement instructions and applicable market procedures.
Corporate Actions Processing:
- Collection and processing of interest and maturity proceeds.
- Dividend collection.
- Rights issues and bonus issues.
- Initial Public Offerings (IPOs).
- Support for investor events and entitlements including AGMs and EGMs where applicable.
Reporting:
- Cash reporting to customers.
- Asset and holdings reporting to customers.
- Records that help investors, trustees and appointed service providers reconcile investment assets and transactions.

Who Can Invest through Custody:

Local individuals investing in eligible Kenyan capital and money-market instruments.
Foreign individuals investing in eligible Kenyan securities.
Asset managers acting for investment portfolios and clients.
Pension schemes requiring regulated custody and independent asset records.
Insurance companies.
SACCOs.
Corporate entities and institutional investors.

Expertise & Value

DTB's Custodial team combines financial-market experience with regulated custody infrastructure designed to support accurate records, timely processing and the safekeeping of client investments.

Customers can expect:

Efficient and personalized custody service.
Accountability, integrity and professional handling of client assets and instructions.
Robust systems and processes to support accurate record keeping and reconciliation.
Timely settlement, corporate-action processing and investment reporting.
Custody support across multiple eligible capital and money-market instruments.
A regulated banking counterparty for individuals, local institutions and foreign investors participating in Kenya's investment markets.

Talk To Us

Speak to DTB about appointing a custodian, opening or maintaining eligible depository accounts, safekeeping investments, trade settlement, corporate actions, reporting or the current custody tariff.

Cell: 0719 031 332 /348
Email: [email protected]
P.O BOX 61711-00200
DTB Centre Branch, 1st Floor
Mombasa Road
Nairobi, Kenya

FAQs

A custodian bank safeguards and administers investment assets on behalf of investors and institutions. Typical responsibilities include maintaining securities records, supporting trade settlement, collecting dividends and interest, processing corporate actions and providing holdings and cash reports. DTB offers custody services across eligible capital and money-market instruments.

A custodian provides an independent safekeeping and asset-administration layer between the investor and other service providers such as brokers or investment managers. This can strengthen controls, record keeping, transparency, settlement processes and oversight of investment assets.

DTB's current product page states that Diamond Trust Bank Kenya Limited is licensed as an Authorized Depository (Custodian) by the Capital Markets Authority, licensed by CDSC as a Central Depository Agent and registered/licensed by the Retirement Benefits Authority. Customers should verify current regulatory status through the relevant regulator when conducting institutional due diligence.

DTB currently lists fixed deposits, Treasury bills, Treasury bonds, corporate bonds, commercial paper and equities among the capital and money-market instruments supported by its custody service.

Yes. DTB lists Treasury bills and Treasury bonds among the instruments covered by custody services and also provides settlement services for government securities. The current tariff includes charges for government-debt trading and related custody services.

Yes. DTB provides custody and settlement support for equities and facilitates depository accounts with CDSC. It also processes equity-related corporate actions such as dividends, rights issues and bonus issues.

Yes. DTB lists both local and foreign individuals among customers who can invest through its custody service, subject to applicable onboarding, market, regulatory and documentation requirements.

Yes. DTB lists foreign individuals among eligible custody customers. A foreign investor should contact the Custodial team to confirm the current account-opening, tax, KYC, depository and settlement requirements for the securities they intend to hold.

Yes. DTB lists pension schemes among eligible custody customers and states that it is registered/licensed by the Retirement Benefits Authority. Pension scheme trustees should carry out the required procurement, due-diligence and regulatory appointment process before selecting a custodian.

A pension scheme custodian holds scheme assets in safe custody, maintains records of the investments it holds and supports reporting and valuation processes. The investment manager normally makes investment-management decisions and instructs the custodian on valid asset transactions under the scheme's governance arrangements.

Yes. DTB lists asset managers among eligible custody customers. The custodian can hold and administer portfolio assets while the appointed manager remains responsible for investment decisions and valid transaction instructions under the agreed mandate.

A Central Depository System (CDS) account is used to record ownership and movement of securities held in electronic form. DTB states that its custody service facilitates and maintains depository accounts with CDSC and CBK as applicable, acting through its licensed custody/depository role.

Yes. DTB's published custody services include settlement of trades in equities, government paper and corporate debt on behalf of customers, subject to valid instructions and applicable market settlement procedures.

Yes. DTB lists dividend collection, interest and maturity payments among its corporate-actions processing services. This helps customers receive and record investment income and other entitlements relating to assets held in custody.

DTB currently lists interest and maturity payments, dividend collection, rights issues, bonus issues, IPOs, AGMs and EGMs among the corporate actions or investor events supported through its custody service.

DTB states that its custody service provides cash and asset reporting. The exact report format, frequency, cut-off times and delivery method should be agreed with the Custodial team based on the customer's requirements and service agreement.

A stockbroker typically executes securities trades, while an investment or fund manager makes portfolio decisions under an investment mandate. A custodian focuses on safekeeping, settlement, asset records, income collection, corporate actions and reporting. Keeping these roles distinct can support independent controls and transparency.

DTB's August 2026 Tariff Guide currently lists annual custody and safekeeping fees of 0.50% for assets up to KES 100 million, 0.35% for KES 100,000,001 to KES 500 million, and 0.25% for assets above KES 500 million. It also lists KES 1,000 per transaction, exclusive of taxes. Additional market, trading, transfer or certificate charges may apply. Confirm the current tariff and calculation basis with DTB before appointment.

DTB's August 2026 Tariff Guide currently lists CDS account opening as nil. Other custody, transaction, trading, transfer or service charges can still apply depending on the activity.

DTB's August 2026 tariff currently lists government-debt successful bids at 0.25% of face value with a minimum KES 2,500, unsuccessful bids at KES 1,500, and corporate-debt trading at 0.25% of face value with a minimum KES 2,500, exclusive of taxes. Confirm the latest tariff before placing an instruction.

Compare regulatory licensing, asset classes supported, depository connectivity, settlement capability, corporate-action processing, reporting quality, service-level timelines, operational resilience, controls and reconciliation, client support, custody fees and transaction charges. The right custodian should fit both the institution's regulatory obligations and its day-to-day investment operations.

Contact the DTB Custodial Services team to discuss your investor type, assets, depository requirements, reporting needs and expected transaction activity. DTB will then confirm the due-diligence documents, agreements, account-opening process, tariff and operational setup required before custody services begin.