If you run a Kenyan business that earns in dollars and spends in shillings, you can hold both currencies in one place. A Kenyan business that opens a Verto account starts with a USD wallet and a KES wallet side by side. You receive dollars from abroad, keep them as dollars, and convert to shillings only when you need to. Here are the questions Kenyan founders and finance teams ask most, answered in plain terms.
How does a Kenyan business open a dollar account with Verto?
You create a Verto business account online and complete verification by uploading shareholder IDs and business documents. Once approved, your account opens with two wallets: USD and your home currency, KES.
From there, you can add wallets in other supported currencies, such as GBP, EUR or NGN, whenever you need them. Verto lets you hold 27 currencies in total, each in its own wallet, inside Verto's Multi-currency Wallets.
You don't need to open a dollar account at a separate bank. Both balances sit in one account, under one login, so you see your full position in one view.
Can customers abroad pay my Kenyan business in dollars?
Yes. A Kenyan business can request USD and EUR local account details with Verto. Customers in the US pay you by ACH, and customers in Europe pay by SEPA, as if they were paying a domestic supplier. You can also receive GBP over Faster Payments from UK customers.
That matters because international wires often pass through intermediary banks, arrive days later and land short. With local details, the payment travels over domestic rails, and the amount your customer sends is the amount that arrives. Availability depends on your business industry.
In practice, you add your USD details to every dollar invoice and ask regular clients to update their supplier records. Clients who already pay American or European suppliers by domestic transfer usually find this simpler than sending an international wire to Nairobi, so invoices tend to be settled sooner.
Can I collect Kenyan shillings in the same account?
Yes. Verto issues KES account details under your business name, so customers and partners in Kenya can pay you by PesaLink or RTGS. You do not need a separate Kenyan bank account to collect shillings through Verto.
PesaLink is Kenya's real-time interbank network, run by a subsidiary of the Kenya Bankers Association. It handles transfers of up to KES 999,999 at any time of day. Larger payments travel over RTGS. Either way, the funds land in your KES wallet. Learn more about Verto Local Accounts.
When should I convert dollars to shillings?
When you need shillings, and when the rate suits you. Holding the USD balance means you are not forced to accept the rate on the day the money arrives.
Verto gives you two ways to convert. Exchange Now converts between your wallets at a live rate, 24/7, 365 days a year. Exchange Deal lets you lock in a rate for 24 hours, which helps when you have a large KES payment due and want certainty first.
A simple approach is to keep enough USD to cover your dollar costs for the next few months, such as software, imported stock or freight. Convert the rest to KES on a regular schedule for payroll, rent and local suppliers.
Can I keep separate dollar balances for different purposes?
Yes. With Verto, you can open several wallets in the same currency. Many businesses keep one USD wallet for supplier payments, another for tax and a third as a reserve.
Separating funds this way makes month-end easier. Your team can see what is already committed before anyone converts or pays out, which reduces the risk of spending money set aside for something else. It also makes it easier to show your accountant or auditor exactly where each dollar came from.
Can I pay suppliers in dollars from the same account?
Yes. You can pay suppliers abroad directly from your USD wallet, so you don't need to convert shillings to dollars each time an invoice arrives. Payments to other businesses on Verto travel through VPay, which is free between Verto businesses, and transfers between Verto wallets are free.
If you pay suppliers in other African markets, you can also hold NGN or other supported currencies and pay them in their local currency.
What does a dollar account cost for a Kenyan business?
Verto's Kenya plans apply to companies registered in Kenya: Free at $0 a month, Lite at $10 and Emerging at $30, with Enterprise priced on request. International collections on the Free plan cost 0.5%, with lower tiered rates on paid plans, and domestic collections in KES are free.
FX is priced by currency band: 0.4% to 0.6% for major currencies, depending on plan, and up to 2% for exotic currencies. Sending an international SWIFT payment from a Kenyan plan costs 15 dollars. See Verto's Kenya pricing for current figures.
Can my team use the account without full access?
Yes. You can give team members read-only access to view balances and transactions, or read-and-write access to add wallets, add funds and manage money. Your accountant can see everything they need to reconcile, while only named people can move funds.
Is Verto regulated?
Yes. Verto is authorised by the UK Financial Conduct Authority as an Electronic Money Institution, and customer funds are held in safeguarded accounts, separate from Verto's own money. The FCA explains how safeguarding works for e-money institutions. Verto has licences and approvals in eight countries; see Verto's licences page for details.
Every dollar you convert on someone else's timing is margin you didn't need to lose. Hold USD and KES side by side and convert only when it suits you. Get started or speak to Verto sales to see what it would save your business.
Hold USD and KES in one Verto wallet
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