Cooperative Bank customers can now smile all the way to the bank after the leading lender announced that it was slashing its lending rate by 2 per cent.

In a statement on Monday, the lender announced that it was lowering the base lending rate from 16.5 per cent per annum to 14.5 per cent per annum.

The new rates, which took effect immediately, therefore will boost customers access to loan facilities and in return boost the economy while empowering Kenyans financially. "Co-op Bank Group is pleased to announce a significant 2% reduction in our Base Lending Rate from 16.5% р.а.

to 14.5% p.a," the Bank announced.