Dashen Aligns Lending Rate with Deposit Rate for Selected Sectors

May 16 , 2020


Dashen Bank has joined the blitz and cut its lending interest rate to be equal to its seven percent deposit rate for businesses in the horticulture, hospitality and export sectors beginning in June.  The Bank also gave its blessing for borrowers from the hospitality and horticulture sectors to reschedule their loan repayment periods for up to five years with a six-month grace period. In the case of exporters, they have been privileged with a three-month grace period and three years of loan repayment extensions. Borrowers will not pay commission charges when they reschedule their loans. Borrowers from the transport, manufacturing and education sectors are incentivised with a three-month grace period and three years of loan rescheduling. Customers who had been paying a 17.7pc to 18pc interest rate attained a 1.5 percentage point cut, whereas businesses originally charged 14pc to 17pc will get a one percentage point relief. These changes won't be applicable for loans that were classified as non-performing before the Novel Coronavirus (COVID-19) pandemic. Dashen has also taken a progressive step by cutting rental fees by 50pc for tenants in its 19 buildings for three months. Zemen, Enat, Wegagen, United, Abay, Awash and Debub Global banks have all fully or partially reduced interest rates on lending.


Radar

Tech Ministry Falters as Audits Expose Mismanagement, Unmet Ambitions

The Ministry of Innovation & Technology is under scrutiny after an audit revealed lapses in project management and financial oversight. This raised questions about governance standards within a Ministry central to the country's tech-driven growth ambitions. According to the Federal Auditor General, the Ministry has completed only 11pc of its planned projects with its overall financial administration standing at 37.4pc for a year-long project that commenced in 2022. Budget mismanagement an...


Radar

Central Bank Keeps Lending Lid Tight as Inflation Squeezes Economy

The Central Bank has reaffirmed its decision to maintain an 18pc cap on credit growth, reinforcing a commitment to tighter monetary policy during persistent inflation and economic uncertainty. The National Bank of Ethiopia's (NBE) monetary policy committee cited ongoing concerns over inflation, which stood at 19.9pc year-on-year (YoY), and liquidity imbalances as reasons to uphold the restriction on lending. Bankers and analysts interpret this move as evidence of regulators' determination to...


Radar

Ethio Telecom Expands Services with DStv Streaming

Ethio telecom enters the entertainment pool with bundled DStv streaming services through high-speed broadband internet and mobile data packages. The partnership with MultiChoice Ethiopia aspires to merge the telecom's fiber broadband and mobile network with DStv's content. Subscribers can access DStv channels through mobile data or fiber broadband bundles, with discounts of up to 35pc through Telebirr or My Ethiotel (*999#) and up to 26.5pc at sales centers for fiber broadband bundles. Acc...