NCBA launches AI-enabled property ecosystem to accelerate home ownership and property investment

NCBA Bank branch in Nairobi. [Wilberforce Okwiri, Standard]

NCBA Bank has launched East Africa's first AI-native property ecosystem, PropertyDuk, that unites property search, financing, building, furnishing and protection in one connected experience.

The move comes at a time when Kenya's property market is estimated at over Sh1 trillion annually, yet mortgage penetration remains low, with about 30,000 active mortgages and nearly 79 per cent of urban Kenyans renting.

The PropertyDuka, the bank said, will help close this gap through trusted property discovery, embedded financial services, AI and a connected marketplace that makes the path to ownership simpler, faster and more transparent.

Speaking at the launch on Tuesday, NCBA Bank Kenya Managing Director James Gossip said the future of banking lies in building ecosystems that bring the bank's purpose, Banking on Belief, Empowering Ambition, to life.

"PropertyDuka demonstrates that purpose in action. Our role is not just to provide financial products, but to build ecosystems around our customers. By combining technology, trusted partnerships and innovative financial solutions, we are making property ownership more accessible, helping formalise Kenya's property market and supporting the country's housing ambitions."

The PropertyDuka enables users to search for homes, get guidance from PropwizAI, assess mortgage affordability, access NCBA mortgages,  construction financing, insurance, home improvement loans and solar lease solutions, and connect with trusted professionals and suppliers in one experience.

To strengthen trust, sellers register with government-issued identification, while companies provide valid registration documents and Kenya Revenue Authority (KRA)  PIN details.

Approved developers carry the NCBA Verified Seller badge. PropertyDuka connects buyers and sellers but does not own or warrant listed properties.

PropertyDuka builds on Duka Marketplaces' growth. Since CarDuka launched, the ecosystem has expanded from about 132,000 users at the start of 2025 to nearly 7 million, facilitating over Sh 4 billion in financial year 2025 transactions.

Powered by NCBA, Duka Marketplaces now brings together PropertyDuka, CarDuka and AuctionsDuka through a single registration.

With PropertyDuka, the bank said it is creating connected customer experiences beyond traditional banking, bringing buying, renting, building, financing and furnishing into one ecosystem because every move deserves a better experience.