Sometimes the biggest deals start with the smallest moments. For Hassan Abdalla, Chief Executive of Egypt’s Commercial International Bank (CIB), the journey to acquiring Kenya’s Mayfair Bank began not in a boardroom, but in the back of a Tuk Tuk on the streets of Nairobi.
Abdalla, then exploring Kenya’s financial landscape, chose to ride a three-wheeled Tuk Tuk to get a feel for how ordinary Kenyans moved, paid, and lived. It was a simple decision, but it opened his eyes to the vibrancy of Kenya’s financial ecosystem—one powered as much by informal grit as by formal institutions.
That ride, insiders say, sparked a chain of curiosity that soon brought CIB into deeper conversations about expanding into East Africa. With Kenya positioning itself as a financial hub, Abdalla saw an opening: a market that was young, digital-first, and hungry for banking services that could bridge global capital with local opportunity. 
In 2020, CIB took a bold step, acquiring a majority stake in Mayfair Bank, marking the Egyptian lender’s first foray into Kenya. The move signaled confidence not only in the Kenyan economy but also in its growing role as a financial gateway to the region.
For Mayfair, the acquisition unlocked fresh capital and credibility, helping the relatively young bank expand its footprint and product offering. For CIB, it was a foothold into East Africa at a time when African banks are seeking cross-border growth beyond their traditional markets.
The story of Abdalla’s Tuk Tuk ride has since become something of a parable within the bank—a reminder that transformative decisions can be born out of everyday encounters, and that understanding the ground reality is often as important as the spreadsheets and forecasts.
Today, CIB’s bet on Mayfair is viewed as a long-term play. With Egypt’s largest bank bringing in deep expertise, global networks, and fresh ambition, Mayfair is better positioned to compete in Kenya’s crowded banking space. And for Abdalla, that chance Tuk Tuk ride remains proof that sometimes, the best way to see opportunity is to look at the world from a different seat.