Lion Bank Doubles Profit Amidst Recovery


Lion Bank Doubles Profit Amidst Recovery

Lion International Bank roars out of the two-year conflict's lows, doubling its net profits from last year to 489.5 million Br. Shareholders gathered for its 19th general assembly at the Hilton Hotel last week were pleased to learn of a 17pc revenue increment to 4.7 billion Br, with total mobilised deposits also showing a modest growth of 5.3pc to 27.3 billion Br Board Chairman Alem Asfaw revealed the success of the recovery plan, which resulted in 135 of its branches closed due to the war reopening. Meanwhile,  10 new branches were opened in the year raising its total number to 288. Alem expressed concern over the non-performing loans which remained at 10.8pc, albeit a decline of six percent from the previous year. He further noted that a minimum of three years will be required for the bank to return to its full prowess. "Many loans remain unrecovered," he told Fortune. Lion's paid-up capital increased by 2.3pc to 2.63 billion Br. It has marked halfway to the regulatory minimum set by the National Bank of Ethiopia for 2026. Earnings per Share of the Bank had gone through a significant increase of 187.28 Br during the year in line with dividends which had surged to 17pc. President of the Bank Daniel Tekeste, indicated that the performance lagged behind some of its peers, attributing it to the belated recovery from the turmoil of conflict. "Its current recovery should be encouraged," the President noted.


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Parliament Reviews Bill Allowing Foreign Property Ownership

A draft proclamation that would allow foreigners to own or occupy immovable property in Ethiopia has been submitted to parliament by the Council of Ministers. Designed to attract foreign investment, the draft law plans to ensure that Ethiopian citizens retain their right to land ownership and use. According to a statement from the Prime Minister's Office, the draft was among six agenda items discussed and approved during the Council's regular session held on May 2, 2025. The proclamation is e...


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Speeding in the Spotlight as New Safety Drive Begins

The Road Safety and Insurance Fund Service has stated that drivers are responsible for 68 percent of traffic accidents in Ethiopia, with the remainder mainly caused by pedestrians and road conditions. On this topic, the service launched a one-month mass media campaign on last week focused on raising awareness about speeding, the leading cause of traffic accidents. The campaign, under the motto "Slow Down, Speeding Ruins Lives," plans to shed light on the dangers of speeding. Yohannes Lemma, E...


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Askari Metals Secures Five Gold Licenses in Untapped Adola Belt

Askari Metals has acquired 100pc of Rift Valley Metals, gaining five gold exploration licences covering 460sqkm in Ethiopia's Adola Greenstone Belt, part of the southern Arabian-Nubian Shield, a mineral-rich but underexplored region. "The exploration areas—Sakaro, Sakaro West, Lega Dembi South, Megado, and Wayu Boda—lie near Ethiopia's top gold mines, including Lega Dembi and Sakaro, which have produced over three million ounces of gold. The area is known for orogenic gold systems hosted...