DTB Diaspora Savings Account

Save towards your future in Kenya while living, working or studying abroad with the DTB Diaspora Savings Account. Build savings in Kenya Shillings or selected foreign currencies; KES, USD, GBP, CAD and EUR - with no opening balance, minimum balance or monthly fee. Eligible KES and USD balances earn interest at DTB's prevailing rates.

Overview

Whether you are saving towards property, education, retirement, an emergency fund, a future move home or another long-term goal, DTB Diaspora Savings Account gives you a dedicated place to build funds in Kenya while you live abroad.

The account is available in KES, USD, GBP, CAD and EUR, with no opening balance, minimum balance or monthly fee. DTB currently pays prevailing interest on eligible local-currency balances and USD balances.

If your savings are mainly in GBP, CAD or EUR, ask DTB whether an interest-bearing alternative is available before deciding where to hold those funds.

For frequent payments and everyday transactions rather than saving, compare this account with DTB's Diaspora Voyager current account options.

What You Need to Open an Account

Current requirements published by DTB for the Diaspora Savings Account are:

National ID for Kenyan citizens.
One passport-size photograph.
KRA PIN Certificate.
FATCA and W-9 documentation for applicants residing in the United States.
DTB may request additional customer due-diligence or verification documents where required by applicable banking and regulatory requirements.

Benefits

Grow savings for future goals while remaining connected to DTB's wider financial services:

Access to DTB insurance services, subject to the terms and eligibility of the relevant product.
Access to DTB credit facilities, subject to separate eligibility, affordability, security and credit-approval requirements.
Interest on eligible KES balances at DTB's prevailing local-currency savings rate.
Interest on eligible USD balances at DTB's prevailing foreign-currency savings rate.
No monthly fee, helping you keep more of the money you set aside.

Features

Key features of the DTB Diaspora Savings Account:

Available currencies: Kenya Shillings (KES), US Dollars (USD), Great Britain Pounds (GBP), Canadian Dollars (CAD) and Euro (EUR).
Opening balance: Nil.
Minimum balance: Nil.
Monthly fee: Nil.
Interest: KES at prevailing local-currency rates; USD only among the published foreign-currency options at prevailing foreign-currency rates.
Account purpose: Building savings for future personal, family and financial goals.

FAQs

A diaspora savings account is a bank account designed for people living abroad who want to build savings in their home country. DTB Diaspora Savings Account lets eligible customers save in KES, USD, GBP, CAD or EUR while living overseas, with no published opening balance, minimum balance or monthly fee.

A dedicated diaspora savings account can help you separate long-term savings from everyday spending. DTB Diaspora Savings Account is designed for people who want to save for future goals in Kenya and supports both Kenya Shillings and selected foreign currencies.

Yes. You can use a savings account to build funds gradually towards a future property deposit, purchase or related expense. DTB Diaspora Savings Account can hold KES or selected foreign currencies while you save. A property purchase or mortgage will have separate requirements, so compare the account with DTB's mortgage options when you are ready.

Yes. A diaspora savings account can help you build an education fund before school-fee dates. If the money is for a child, you may also want to compare DTB Diaspora Savings with the DTB Diaspora Just4Me Account, which is specifically designed to help parents and legal guardians save for children.

Yes. The account can be used to set aside money for future goals such as an emergency reserve, retirement, relocation back to Kenya or other planned expenses. Choose the account currency based on the currency in which you expect to use the money.

DTB currently offers the account in Kenya Shillings, US Dollars, Great Britain Pounds, Canadian Dollars and Euros.

Yes, but the published interest treatment differs by currency. DTB states that local-currency balances earn interest at prevailing rates and that USD is the only foreign-currency option currently listed as interest earning. Ask DTB for the current applicable rate before making a savings decision.

The current DTB page lists foreign-currency interest for USD only. It does not state that GBP, CAD or EUR balances earn interest. If interest is important to you, confirm the latest position with DTB before choosing the account currency.

DTB currently publishes a nil opening balance and nil minimum balance. This allows eligible diaspora customers to start saving without maintaining a fixed minimum operating balance.

No. DTB currently publishes a nil monthly fee for the Diaspora Savings Account.

DTB currently lists a National ID for Kenyan citizens, one passport-size photograph and KRA PIN Certificate. Applicants residing in the United States must also provide FATCA and W-9 documentation. Additional customer-verification documents may be requested where required.

DTB specifically lists FATCA and W-9 documentation for applicants residing in the United States, in addition to the standard account-opening requirements. Contact DTB's Diaspora Banking team for the current forms and certification process.

Choose based on where your income comes from and what you are saving for. KES can be suitable for future expenses in Kenya Shillings, while USD can make sense when you receive or expect to spend funds in dollars. DTB currently publishes interest for both KES and USD, but exchange rates can move in either direction, so currency choice should reflect your actual needs rather than a prediction.

A savings account is designed to hold money for future goals and may earn interest under the applicable terms. A current account is designed for more frequent transactions and payments. If you regularly pay bills or move money in Kenya, you may need a current account alongside a separate savings account.

A savings account generally offers more flexibility for building money over time, while a fixed deposit usually commits a lump sum for an agreed period in return for a specified deposit rate. Compare access to funds, interest, minimum amount and term before choosing. Ask DTB about its current deposit options if you already have a lump sum.

A diaspora bank account can be used as a destination for supported incoming payments, but the correct route, currencies, transfer details and charges depend on the payment method. DTB's wider Diaspora Banking service supports local and international transfers through its banking channels; confirm the appropriate instructions for crediting this specific savings account with the Diaspora Banking team.

Compare supported currencies, interest rates, opening and minimum balances, monthly fees, withdrawal rules, digital access, incoming transfer options, customer support and access to related products such as mortgages or insurance. DTB Diaspora Savings Account offers five currencies, nil opening and minimum balances, nil monthly fee, and published interest on KES and USD balances.