COOP Bank, Kifya Launch Digital Uncollateralised Lending Platform


COOP Bank, Kifya Launch Digital Uncollateralised Lending Platform

The Cooperative Bank of Oromia and Kifya Financial Technologies have partnered to launch an uncollateralised digital lending platform dubbed 'Michu.' The platform offers loans and overdraft facilities mostly catered towards providing credit access to micro, small, and medium businesses (MSMEs). The Bank is offering a maximum of 30,000 Br in credit with a repayment period of one to four months. "We're excited to join hands with Kifiya as we expand our digital financial offerings and deliver support to the financing needs of micro and small businesses that are often neglected but represent a significant part of the economy,” said Deribie Asfaw, CEO of the Cooperative Bank of Oromia. Powered by Kifya's Qena technology, the platform will use an AI-enabled credit scoring system. Kifiya Financial Technologies was incorporated in 2010 and has been operational since 2013 developing digital payment solutions. The Cooperative Bank has 1.7 million subscribers and over 18,000 merchants accepting payments through its mobile money platform.


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Central Bank's Auction Sends Dollar Soaring to 135 Br

A dollar value against the Birr exceeds 135 during an auction the Central Bank held last week, offering 60 million dollars. Close to 27 banks made their bid where the weighted average was 135.61 Br for a dollar. The National Bank of Ethiopia (NBE) announced the results of the special foreign exchange auction, the second since monetary authorities floated the forex regime in early August last year. Last week's result reflects a weaker Birr than in the first when the average rate was 107.9 Br....


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Ethio Telecom Bids to Dominate Ethiopia's Digital Future

An array of services from digital livestock tracking, push-to-talk/video communications to cloud-based banking, an education management system (EMS), and enterprise resource Planning (ERP) are available from the state-owned Ethio telecom. Ethio telecom has introduced seven new cloud-based digital services last week at the Skylight Hotel, on Africa Avenue (Bole Road), pledging to transform business operations, financial services, and education management. The company said that these solutions...


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Addis International Convention Centre Inaugurates

The much-anticipated Addis International Convention Centre, spanning 40 hectares, was officially inaugurated last week. It is set to become the country's largest conference venue, designed to host both national and international events. The centre features two large halls, each accommodating 3,000 to 4,000 people. It also includes eight smaller meeting rooms, bringing its total capacity to 10,000 attendees. Two hotels, with a combined 1,000-bed capacity, will serve both local and internationa...