Dashen Bank, one of the leading private banks, has invested five million Birr to open a special branch inside its recently inaugurated headquarters.

Named after the Ethio-Saudi business tycoon Mohammed Al-Amoudi (Sheikh), the new branch is specially designed for people with disabilities, senior citizens, non-national investors, corporate services and interest-free banking.

Located on the ground floor of its headquarters, the branch has a capacity of hosting 15 people at once and has a self-service desk for those who want to use internet banking, account checking and send money transfers. The branch also has television screens installed that provide information on exchange rates from the international banking division.

There is a dedicated window for each segmented service without teller windows, which allows clients to interact with customer service officers without barriers in between.

“The new branch helps us to avoid unnecessary paperwork and increase work efficiency,” said Asefaw Alemu, CEO of the Bank.

The special branch is one part of the activities undertaken by the Bank to transform itself into one of the most competitive banks in Africa by 2025, according to Asefaw.

Dashen Bank hired KPMG Advisory Services Limited, a global advisory company, for strategy formulation and implementation in 2017 on a budget of 40 million Br.

The opening ceremony of the branch was held last Thursday, September 5, 2019, with the presence of Deputy Mayor Takele Uma and Abinet Gebremeskel, CEO of MIDROC Ethiopia’s Project Management Office.

During the inauguration ceremony of the branch, the Bank announced a one million Br donation for the Federal Police Commission's Crime Investigation Bureau and for the school feeding programme of Enat-Weg Charitable Association.

Dashen is also in the process of building a 900Sqm parking lot that can accommodate 120 cars behind its headquarters, which is located in front of National Bank of Ethiopia.