🤖 EQUITY BANK FROM KENYA WANTS TO COME TO ETHIOPIA'S BANKING MARKET! 💰 The big bank from Kenya, called Equity Bank, has said it wants to start doing business in Ethiopia. This is because Ethiopia is now letting foreign banks enter its banking industry. 🏦 The boss of Equity Bank, James Mwangi, met with the head of the investment commission in Ethiopia, Zeleke Temesgen. Zeleke said the government will support Equity Bank as it expands into Ethiopia. 🤝 Equity Bank is a very big bank in East Africa, with over 16 million customers in countries like Kenya and Congo. Equity Bank has been wanting to work in Ethiopia for a while, and now that Ethiopia is allowing foreign banks, Equity Bank sees a great chance to do that. 🌍 As Ethiopia's economy continues to grow and change, having experienced banks like Equity Bank come in will be good. It will bring new ideas and more banking services for the people of Ethiopia. 📈 What do you think will happen when a big Kenyan bank like Equity Bank starts operating in Ethiopia? Share your thoughts! 💭 #EquityBank #EthiopiaBank #EconomyGrowth #ForeignInvestment #BankingServices

Equity Bank Limited has taken a decisive step toward expanding its footprint into Ethiopia, a move that comes as the country officially opens its financial sector to foreign participation. Group CEO James Mwangi recently held talks with the Ethiopian Investment Commission (EIC), where Commissioner Zeleke Temesgen Boru (Ph.D) assured institutional support for the bank’s market entry. This signals an important milestone not only for Equity but also for the region’s financial integration. Ethiopia, with a population of over 120 million, presents a vast and largely untapped opportunity for banking services. The nation’s banking penetration rate is among the lowest on the continent, with private sector credit accounting for just 15% of GDP compared to over 30% in Kenya and Tanzania. This highlights significant room for growth in financial intermediation, deposit mobilization, and credit expansion. Equity aims to leverage this gap by introducing innovative banking solutions and accelerating access to financial services for millions currently underserved. The regulatory landscape has also evolved to accommodate this shift. Ethiopia passed new banking legislation in December 2024, allowing foreign banks to establish subsidiaries, open branches, or acquire up to 40% stakes in local institutions. In June 2025, the National Bank of Ethiopia issued directives inviting applications from international banks. Alongside these reforms, the country is adopting global prudential standards such as IFRS 9 and Basel guidelines to ensure strong governance and systemic resilience. This regulatory modernization is expected to encourage long-term investor confidence and create a more competitive banking sector. Equity Bank’s entry into Ethiopia reflects a broader trend of regional lenders, including Kenya’s KCB Bank Group, seeking to expand into Africa’s second most populous country. While opportunities are immense, the Ethiopian market remains concentrated, with the state-owned Commercial Bank of Ethiopia dominating over half of the sector’s assets. Success will therefore depend on regulatory oversight, market readiness, and the ability of new entrants like Equity to innovate in digital banking and financial inclusion. The move reaffirms Equity’s vision of transforming lives and livelihoods through inclusive financial services across the continent. #EquityBank #Ethiopia #BankingSector #FinancialInclusion #EastAfrica #DigitalBanking #EconomicGrowth #AfricaFinance #InvestmentOpportunities https://lnkd.in/d5Tq_XJg

🚀 Ethiopia hits 1 Trillion ETB in Interbank Lending! In less than a year since launch, Ethiopia’s Interbank Money Market Platform has transformed liquidity management: ✅ Banks now lend/borrow short-term funds via the Ethiopian Securities Exchange ✅ Trades already exceed 1 Trillion ETB (Stockmarket.et) ✅ Rates kept within ±3% of the National Bank Rate (Addis Standard) 💡 Why it matters: #Better liquidity flow between banks #Stronger monetary policy transmission #More transparent & resilient financial system #Of course, challenges remain (FX pressure, small bank participation, infrastructure gaps) — but this is a game-changing milestone for Ethiopia’s financial sector. 👉 Do you think this will make credit cheaper and more accessible in Ethiopia? #Ethiopia #Finance #Banking #Liquidity #InterbankMarket

Why Africa’s banking giants are racing to enter Ethiopia Over the past seven months, four of Africa’s largest lenders — KCB Group, Equity Group, Banque pour le Commerce et l’Industrie Mer Rouge (BCIMR), and Standard Bank Group — have signalled plans to enter Ethiopia’s opening financial market. The growing appetite follows sweeping reforms implemented over the past two years aimed at liberalising and modernising the economy after decades of tight state control. As part of a broader reform programme, the government has floated the birr to eliminate multiple exchange rates, launched a stock exchange, and rolled out new monetary tools including a central bank policy rate to anchor stability. Read the full story here: https://lnkd.in/eeR6c2hV

After half a century, Ethiopia's financial sector is opening up, and the biggest players in African banking are lining up! At least four major banks from three different African nations have formally expressed interest to enter the Ethiopian market!

🏦 Interbank Money Market (IMM) in Ethiopia Definition: A formal platform where commercial banks lend and borrow short-term funds (typically overnight to 7 days) to manage liquidity needs. Regulators Involved: - National Bank of Ethiopia (NBE) - Ethiopian Capital Market Authority (ECMA) Key Functions & Importance: - 💧 Liquidity Management: Enables banks to cover shortfalls or invest excess reserves, ensuring smooth daily operations. - 📊 Monetary Policy Transmission: - IMM is the main channel for NBE’s monetary policy. - Influences interbank interest rates, which affect broader lending rates and economic activity. - Guided by tools like the National Bank Rate (NBR) and interest rate corridor. - 💰 Price Discovery: - Establishes market-driven short-term interest rates. - Acts as a signal of liquidity and financial health in the banking sector. Strategic Impact: IMM transitions Ethiopia’s financial system from centralized control to market-based operations—central to ECMA/NBE’s modernization agenda.

Equity Bank Limited and KCB Bank Group are strategically poised to expand into Ethiopia’s newly liberalized banking sector. With Ethiopia’s population exceeding 120 million and banking penetration still low, this move presents a significant growth opportunity for these Nairobi-headquartered banks. Leveraging strong regulatory engagement, local partnerships, and digital innovations, this expansion signals a new era of regional financial integration. https://lnkd.in/duccTHAw

#update the growth of interest-free banking services in Ethiopia. 1. The number of interest-free bank account holders has reached over #27million. 2. The total deposits collected from these account holders exceed #378billion Birr. Solomon Desta, Deputy Governor of the National Bank of Ethiopia, noted this growth during a Forum for collecting input to develop an independent strategy for interest-free financial services. Through these interest-free banking services, over #160 billion Birr in loans has been provided. But still need #regulatory strengthening, #Shariahharmonization,#productdiversificationand #customerawareness to reach its full potential and support inclusive development. Agree? #IFBBANKING #ETHIOPIA

🇪🇹 👨🏿🚀TechCabal Daily – Banking on Ethiopia 🇪🇹 Kenyan financial giants Equity Bank and KCB are looking to enter the Ethiopian market following government reforms in December 2024 that opened the sector to foreign banks. Equity Bank signaled its intention on September 13, while KCB Bank began talks as early as June 2025. The liberalisation framework allows foreign lenders to establish subsidiaries or take minority stakes, with KCB reportedly considering up to a 40% stake in a local bank. This move into Ethiopia's untapped market of 120 million people mirrors developments in the telecom industry and aims to strengthen East African financial footprints for Kenyan banks. #Ethiopia #EthiopiaNews #EastAfrica #AfricaNews #HornOfAfrica 📌 KINDLY FOLLOW TO GET INSTANT AI-POWERED SUMMARIES OF AFRICA'S TOP NEWS STORIES 24/7 ON YOUR LINKEDIN FEED! Read More 👇🏻 https://lnkd.in/g6H-TA48

𝗞𝗲𝗻𝘆𝗮’𝘀 𝗘𝗾𝘂𝗶𝘁𝘆 𝗕𝗮𝗻𝗸 𝗘𝘆𝗲𝘀 𝗘𝘁𝗵𝗶𝗼𝗽𝗶𝗮𝗻 𝗕𝗮𝗻𝗸𝗶𝗻𝗴 𝗦𝗲𝗰𝘁𝗼𝗿 𝗘𝘅𝗽𝗮𝗻𝘀𝗶𝗼𝗻 Equity Bank Limited is preparing to enter Ethiopia’s newly liberalised financial sector, aiming to leverage its extensive regional experience across East and Central Africa. In discussions with Ethiopian Investment Commission (EIC) Commission Commissioner Zeleke Temesgen Boru (Ph.D), the bank received assurances of full support from the EIC to facilitate its entry. Equity Bank intends to offer a comprehensive suite of retail, corporate, and digital banking services, aiming to set a standard for other foreign investors. 𝗥𝗘𝗔𝗗 𝗠𝗢𝗥𝗘: https://lnkd.in/e89pGa_3 #EthiopiaFinance #BankingExpansion #ForeignInvestment #AfricanMarkets #DigitalBanking #FinancialInclusion #InvestmentOpportunities #RegionalGrowth #BankingInnovation #InvestInEthiopia