CBK to suspend real time payments for three days due to system upgrade
This means that businesses, suppliers, contractors and individuals who do not process their payments before the set deadline will have to wait until Monday for the services to be restored.
The Central Bank of Kenya (CBK) has announced it will temporarily suspend real-time payment services to allow for a scheduled system upgrade, a move expected to affect high-value money transfers for three days.
In a public notice issued to customers, the bank said the system maintenance will begin on Friday, August 22, 2025, at 1:30 pm.
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During this period, Real-Time Gross Settlement (RTGS) services will be unavailable until normal operations resume on Monday, August 25, 2025.
To avoid any interruptions, CBK has advised users to complete all pending RTGS payments by 12:30 pm on Friday, ahead of the shutdown.
“Dear Customer, the Central Bank of Kenya will upgrade its systems on Friday, August 22, 2025 at 1:30 pm, impacting RTGS payment processing. Please ensure all RTGS payments are made by 12:30 pm on that date. Normal services will resume on Monday, August 25, 2025,” read the communication from CBK.
This means that businesses, suppliers, contractors and individuals who do not process their payments before the set deadline will have to wait until Monday for the services to be restored.
RTGS is an important payment channel that enables banks and financial institutions to transfer large sums of money instantly.
It is widely used for corporate transactions, interbank settlements, and other major payments that require real-time processing.
The suspension, although temporary, is expected to affect time-sensitive financial obligations and business operations that rely on the system.
CBK is therefore urging customers to plan ahead to avoid delays.
The upgrade comes slightly over a month after the bank extended RTGS operating hours starting July 1, 2025. That extension was meant to give more flexibility to banks, private companies and government offices handling bulk transactions.
The adjustment also signaled the central bank’s intention to gradually move towards a true 24-hour digital settlement environment, a crucial step in building a fully modernised and competitive digital economy.
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