CDH Investment Bank: Open an Account, Mobile Banking, SWIFT and Branch Codes

Personal banking · checked October 2026

CDH Investment Bank

How to open a personal account at CDH Investment Bank in Malawi: which account to pick, the money you need to start, the documents to bring, the fees, and how to bank online.

Compare accounts Documents you need

Savings from K100,000
Account opening free
3 banking centres

Quick answer: Pick an account, then visit a CDH Investment Bank banking centre (CDH House in Blantyre, or the Capital City and City Mall centres in Lilongwe) with your ID, proof of income and proof of address. The cheapest start is the Smart Savers account at K100,000; a personal current account starts at K500,000. Opening an account is free.

Step 1 · Choose

Which CDH account is right for you?

CDH is a specialist bank, so its accounts start higher than at most banks. These are the personal accounts it lists, with the figures from its own website in October 2026.

Everyday bankingCurrent account with cheque book, ATM card and online banking.From K500,000 SavingsSmart Savers, Prime Investors and call accounts that pay interest.From K100,000 Lock money awayFixed deposits and treasury placements, 1 to 12 months.From K100,000 Foreign currencyFCDA and the Diaspora account for Malawians abroad.USD, GBP, EUR, ZAR

Everyday banking

Personal current account

Current account. A cheque account for your day to day money. It comes with an ATM card, links to internet and mobile banking, takes standing and stop orders, and can get an overdraft if the bank approves it.

To open: K500,000
Keep at least: K50,000
Earns interest: On balances from K500,000
Monthly fee: Free
Cheque book: From K39,675 (50 leaves)

Check the opening amount. CDH’s personal banking page says K500,000, but the current account form on its website says K1,000,000. Ask the banking centre which applies before you go.

Smiling CDH Investment Bank customer — None of CDH’s savings accounts charge a monthly ledger fee. Image: CDH Investment Bank

Savings

Savings accounts that pay interest

No monthly ledger fees on any of these. Interest rates change, so see the current rates on CDH’s rates page.

Smart Savers. The lowest way in. A savings account with no limit on withdrawals; interest is worked out on your monthly average balance.

To open: K100,000
Keep at least: K100,000
Interest paid: Monthly
Access: Internet banking and ATM card

Prime Investors. For people committed to saving. CDH says it pays one of the highest savings rates in Malawi. Top up with any amount; withdraw freely above the minimum.

To open: K500,000
Keep at least: K500,000
Interest paid: Every six months
Access: Internet banking and ATMs

Call account. An investment account linked to your main account. Your money earns interest and you can take it out on demand.

To open: K1,000,000
Keep at least: K1,000,000
Interest paid: Monthly
Service fees: None

Lock money away

Fixed deposits and treasury placements

Put money away for a set time at a fixed contract rate.

Fixed deposit. Choose 1, 2, 3, 6, 9 or 12 months. You first need an operating CDH account, such as a current, Smart Savers or Prime Investors account.

Minimum: K100,000
Terms: 1 to 12 months
Interest: As agreed in your contract
Monthly fee: None

Treasury placement. Money placed on contract for 1 to 12 months, paid out when the contract ends. It can be pledged as security for a loan.

Minimum: K1,000,000
Terms: 1 to 12 months
Early withdrawal: Ends the contract, with a penalty
Service fees: None

Foreign currency

FCDA and the Diaspora account

Both follow the Reserve Bank of Malawi’s exchange control rules.

FCDA (foreign currency account). Keep money in US dollars, pounds, euros, rand or Canadian dollars, pay abroad straight from the account and protect savings from exchange rate swings. Interest is negotiable.

To open: No minimum, says the web page
Form’s minimum balance: US$1,500, GBP500, EUR1,000, ZAR5,000 or CAD1,000
Moving to kwacha: Free within CDH

Diaspora account. For Malawians living abroad who want to receive foreign currency at home. You can withdraw in the same currency or in kwacha at the day’s rate.

Currencies: USD, GBP, EUR, ZAR
Keep at least: US$1,000, GBP1,000, EUR1,000 or ZAR10,000
Earns interest: From US$5,000, GBP5,000, EUR5,000 or ZAR50,000
Interest paid: Quarterly

The FCDA figures disagree. The web page says there is no minimum opening amount; the FCDA form lists minimum balances. How to open a Diaspora account from abroad is not published either. Email [email protected] before you send money.

Sending money home? See what your dollars, pounds or rand are worth in kwacha at today’s official Reserve Bank of Malawi rate with our kwacha converter. The bank’s own exchange rate and fees decide what actually arrives.

Step 2 · Prepare

Documents to bring

This is CDH’s list for personal accounts, from its account forms and FAQ. Bring originals.

Your checklist

ID: National ID, passport or driver’s licence.
Proof of income: a pay slip or a letter from your employer; self employed, a business certificate. The savings form also accepts a bank statement.
Proof of address: a utility bill (water, electricity or city rates) or a tenancy agreement.
Your first deposit for the account you chose.

Bills not in your name? The forms have a Confirmation of residence section that your landlord signs, naming the house and the bill they provide.

Fill the form at home. CDH posts its forms on the rates and forms page. The same form also signs you up for internet banking and a cheque book.

A man checking his bank account on his phone at home — Pick your account first, then fill in the form for it. Image: CDH Investment Bank

Step 3 · Open

How to open your account

Download and fill the form
Pick the form for your account: current account, Smart Savers and Prime Investors, FCDA or Diaspora (links below). You can also collect one at a banking centre.
Go to a banking centre
Take the form, your documents and your first deposit to CDH House in Blantyre, or the Capital City or City Mall banking centre in Lilongwe. Opening the account is free.
Ask for internet banking and a card
Tick internet banking on the form, choose a daily transfer limit (the form offers K100,000, K500,000 or K1,000,000) and ask for an ATM card. Registration for internet banking is free.

Current account form (PDF)Personal, from cdh-malawi.com Smart Savers and Prime Investors form (PDF)From cdh-malawi.com FCDA personal account form (PDF)From cdh-malawi.com Diaspora account form (PDF)From cdh-malawi.com

The CDH Investment Bank app login screen on a phone — The CDH app signs you in with a username and password. Image: CDH Investment Bank

Bank from your phone

Internet banking, mobile app and ATM card

CDH calls its online banking CDHIB online. Sign up at a banking centre; there is no online sign up.

Internet banking
Check balances, download statements, move money within CDH and to other banks, pay MRA taxes, order cheque books and stop cheques.
To register, fill the internet banking form (part of the account forms) at any banking centre, or download it and hand it in.
Mobile app
Has the same features plus bill payments and standing orders. It is for personal account holders who are already registered for internet banking, on an Android phone or iPhone.
CDH’s Facebook page calls it CDHIB Mobile and says it is on the App Store and Google Play, but we could not find it in either store in October 2026 (the App Store link on CDH’s website was not working either), so ask the banking centre how to install the app.
ATM card
Use it at any Natswitch ATM and Natswitch card machines in shops across Malawi, and at CDH agents. Lost it? Call or visit a banking centre to block it, then apply for a replacement there.

USSD banking: CDH does not list a USSD code for personal banking. Mobile money users can compare mobile money fees instead.

Online banking dashboard open on a laptop — CDHIB online works in a browser on a computer as well as on your phone. Image: CDH Investment Bank

Fees

What CDH charges

From CDH’s tariff guide effective April 2026. Some fees add 17.5% VAT, and electronic money transfers carry a 0.05% levy.

Free: opening and closing an account, balance enquiries, online statements, withdrawals at banking centres, the monthly fee on Prime Investors, Smart Savers and personal current accounts, and internet banking registration and transfers within CDH.

Internet banking, personal: K4,785 a month
Online transfer to another bank: K625 each
Branch transfer to another bank, before 3pm: K14,000
After 3pm: K59,000
Cheque book: K39,675 (50), K66,528 (100), K131,673 (200)
Bankers cheque: K54,864
ATM card fee: Not listed, check with the bank

Full 2026 tariff guide (PDF)Every CDH fee, from cdh-malawi.com

Codes

SWIFT code and branch codes

CDH sends and receives international payments by SWIFT in USD, EUR, GBP and ZAR, but its website does not publish its SWIFT (BIC) code or any branch or sort codes.

Need the code to receive money from abroad? Ask your banking centre or email [email protected], and check it against your account statement. Do not copy a SWIFT code from an unofficial website; a wrong code can send money to the wrong bank.

CDH Investment Bank annual general meeting — CDH Investment Bank’s annual general meeting. Image: CDH Investment Bank

Contacts

CDH banking centres

CDH has three banking centres, two in Lilongwe and one in Blantyre. Opening hours are not published, so call before you go.

Blantyre, CDH House: 5 Independence Drive. 0111 821 300, 0999 970 322
Lilongwe, Capital City: CDH Investment Bank Centre. 0111 776 176, 0887 827 775
Lilongwe, City Mall: Mchinji Roundabout. 0111 753 464, 0999 970 761
Email: [email protected], [email protected]

CDH contact pageAll numbers and map links CDH personal bankingThe bank’s own account details CDH digital bankingInternet banking, app and cards

Questions

CDH Investment Bank FAQ

What is the minimum deposit to open a CDH account?

K100,000 for Smart Savers, K500,000 for Prime Investors, K500,000 for a personal current account on the web page (the form says K1,000,000, so check with the bank) and K1,000,000 for a call account or treasury placement.

Does CDH have a student, youth or children’s account?

CDH does not list one on its website. The cheapest personal account is Smart Savers at K100,000. For anything else, check with the bank.

Can I borrow against my savings?

Yes. CDH offers a same day loan secured by your deposit: from K500,000, up to 70% of a Smart Savers balance or 80% of a Prime Investors or fixed deposit balance, repaid within 12 months at the bank’s base rate.

Why did my account go dormant?

CDH makes an account dormant after six months with no deposits or withdrawals. You can still deposit cash, but you must reactivate it at a banking centre before you withdraw or deposit a cheque.

Is my money protected?

CDH Investment Bank is licensed and regulated by the Reserve Bank of Malawi and is a member of the Deposit Insurance Corporation.

How do I get statements by email?

Give an email address when you open the account. To add or change it later, visit your banking centre with your original ID and a copy and fill in a Static Data Change Form.

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