I&M Bank has expanded its premium banking offering with the launch of the Mastercard World Elite Credit Card, a new metal card developed in partnership with Mastercard to serve Kenya’s growing affluent and globally mobile clientele.
The new World Elite Metal Card positions I&M Bank among the latest financial institutions in the region to offer Mastercard’s highest-tier consumer credit card, providing exclusive travel, lifestyle, security, and concierge services without requiring customers to meet a minimum spending threshold.
The launch comes at a time when Kenya’s high-net-worth population continues to grow, with the bank citing a 14 per cent increase between 2015 and 2025. This growth has fuelled demand for premium financial products that combine global acceptance, enhanced security, and luxury lifestyle experiences.
Speaking during the launch, Kihara Maina said today’s affluent customers are increasingly looking for products that enhance their lifestyle rather than signify status.
“Kenya’s affluent professionals and global executives no longer measure prestige by what a card represents on paper, but by what experiences it unlocks in the world,” said Maina.
“The Mastercard World Elite Credit Card is our answer to that shift. It is engineered for those who travel often, shop and entertain widely, and expect their bank to move at the same pace as their ambitions.”
The premium card offers unlimited access to airport lounges worldwide for cardholders and one accompanying guest, fast-track airport services at selected destinations, and access to dedicated concierge services for travel planning, dining reservations, and lifestyle support.
Customers will also benefit from comprehensive travel and medical insurance, exclusive hotel partnerships, and curated travel privileges designed to enhance both business and leisure travel.
Beyond travel, cardholders gain access to Mastercard’s Priceless platform, which offers exclusive dining experiences, sporting events, entertainment, cultural activities, and special offers from global retail and hospitality partners.
According to Shehryar Ali, the partnership reflects the evolving expectations of Kenya’s premium banking customers.
“The Mastercard World Elite Credit Card represents the very pinnacle of our premium portfolio, and this collaboration with I&M Bank reflects the growing sophistication and global mobility of the clients we serve in Kenya,” he said.
“This is far more than a product launch. It is a commitment to connecting Kenya’s most discerning consumers to their everyday passions, ensuring they have seamless, secure access to the same world-class privileges and priceless experiences available anywhere in the world.”
Unlike many premium credit cards that require users to maintain a minimum monthly spend to retain benefits, the Mastercard World Elite Metal Card gives qualifying clients immediate access to its complete suite of services from the day the card is activated.
The card also incorporates advanced security features, including continuous fraud monitoring, purchase protection, emergency card replacement services, and a dedicated customer support line exclusively for World Elite cardholders.
The launch underscores I&M Bank’s strategy of strengthening its premium banking portfolio as competition intensifies among financial institutions seeking to serve Kenya’s expanding base of affluent individuals, entrepreneurs, and internationally mobile professionals.
By combining premium travel privileges, lifestyle experiences, global payment acceptance, and enhanced security on a single metal card, I&M Bank aims to meet the evolving financial and lifestyle needs of customers whose personal and business activities increasingly extend beyond Kenya’s borders.
