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In a landmark move to promote gender equity in the banking industry, the National Bank of Ethiopia (NBE) has released its inaugural Gender Financial Inclusion Index, positioning Enat Bank at the forefront. Among 30 commercial banks evaluated, Enat Bank emerged as the sole financial institution to attain a “transformational” rating, outpacing competitors in a field where most lenders remain at early stages of integration. The five-tier composite index, developed by the Central Bank as a benchmarking tool, rates banks across dimensions such as leadership commitment, product innovation, credit accessibility, data transparency, and organisational policies targeting women’s financial participation. While three other banks received recognition for progress, the industry's average settled at 2.95, categorising the majority within the “Building Momentum” tier, a midpoint demonstrating nascent but incomplete commitments to inclusive banking practices.


Enat Bank’s performance stood out not only for scoring highest but also for its structural and cultural alignment with gender equity principles. Founded in 2008 with a mission to empower women economically, Enat Bank has since issued over 1.4 billion Br in non-collateral loans to women-led enterprises, contributing to the creation of more than 22,000 jobs. According to reviewers, the Bank’s operational ethos integrates gender inclusion at every level, from its boardroom, where Chairperson Meaza Ashenafi, a former president of the Supreme Court, provides strategic oversight, to front-line services geared toward underserved female entrepreneurs. The symbolic weight of the achievement was observed during a celebration at the Addis Abeba Hilton on June 19, 2025, where former President Sahle-Work Zewde joined Enat Bank President Ermias Andarge and other board members for a toast marking the milestone.




PUBLISHED ON Jun 21,2025 [ VOL 26 , NO 1312]

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