United Bank Cuts Loan Interest Rate by 25pc

May 9 , 2020


[ssba-buttons]

United Bank has cut lending interest rates by 25pc for severely affected sectors including floriculture and hotel and tour operators due to the COVID-19 pandemic, effective May 16, 2020. The slashed interest rate is in addition to the previously announced letters of credit (LC) and Cash Against Document (CAD) period extension fee reduction, loan restructuring and deferment of payments for affected sectors. The interest rate reduction will remain active for three months. Other sectors will also be entitled to a five percent interest rate reduction during this three-month period except for those that are already offered preferential rates. While offering these five percent and 25pc interest rate reductions, the Bank will forgo about 50 million Br in interest income during the coming three months. United Bank has pitched in five million Br to the Ministry of Health to buttress the fight against the pandemic.


Radar

City Unveils Major School Expansion Across 11 Districts

Addis Abeba City Administration has launched 150 education projects valued at over 5.2 billion Br ahead of the 2026 academic year. Spread across the capital's 11 districts, the rollout includes 14 newly built schools and upgrades to 64 existing facilities, adding 1,655 classrooms alongside ICT labs, libraries, and sports fields. City officials say the investment is part of efforts to improve access and quality of education, with infrastructure designed to accommodate students with disabilitie...


Radar

Santim Pay Launches Locally Assembled POS Machines

Santim Pay Financial Solution S.C. has begun assembling Point of Sale (POS) machines in Ethiopia, with its new facility assembling up to 300 units daily. The devices run on locally developed software and are priced below imported alternatives. Directed towards domestic commercial institutions, the move supports digital payment growth while reducing dependency on foreign suppliers. The company has also launched repair services to boost device durability and service availability. The fintech compa...


Radar

KEFI Confirms Key Milestones, Kickstarts Tulu Kapi Resettlement

The London-listed KEFI Gold & Copper has initiated the community resettlement process for their Tulu Kapi gold project found in the West Welega Zone. Funded from KEFI's own reserves ahead of broader project financing, underscoring the urgency to commence full development. Resettlement is being implemented by the Ethiopian government under World Bank standards. The announcement was made during a mining forum held at the Ethiopian Embassy in London, which was co-hosted by the British Embass...