NBE Requires Rating Disclosure From Foreign Banks

Jun 29 , 2025


[ssba-buttons]

The National Bank of Ethiopia (NBE) has issued a directive requiring foreign bank applicants to disclose any recent credit ratings issued by external agencies but does not impose a minimum rating threshold. Applicants must also secure a letter of no objection from the supervisory authority in their home country, submit authenticated founding documents, demonstrate strong financial standing, and provide a business plan outlining how they intend to integrate into Ethiopia’s financial system.

Foreign banks seeking to operate as subsidiaries or branches are required to remit a minimum paid-up capital of five billion Br in an acceptable foreign currency, USD, EUR, or GBP. Each branch must appoint a senior country officer who resides locally and establish a branch management committee responsible for overseeing local operations.

Ownership limits have been tightened: individuals may hold up to 7pc of a bank’s subscribed shares, legal entities up to 10pc, and total foreign ownership in non-subsidiary banks is capped at 49pc.

Foreign banks are permitted to operate either deposit-taking or non-deposit-taking branches, but not both. Each branch must appoint a senior country officer and set up a branch management committee.

The directive also includes fit-and-proper criteria for promoters, board members, and senior managers, and mandates that all customer data, account details, and transaction records be stored and processed within Ethiopia. The new rules took effect on June 25, 2025.

 
Editors' Note: This article has been amended from its original form on July 02, 2025.
 

In our short story headlined, “NBE Demands Investment-Grade Rating for Foreign Banks” [Vol. 26 No. 1313, June 29, 2025], we incorrectly reported that "The National Bank of Ethiopia (NBE) has issued a new directive requiring foreign banks to hold an investment-grade rating of at least BBB from Standard & Poor’s or Fitch, or BAA from Moody’s, as a precondition for entering the local banking sector."

The story has since been corrected to reflect that "The National Bank of Ethiopia (NBE) has issued a directive requiring foreign bank applicants to disclose any recent credit ratings issued by external agencies but does not impose a minimum rating threshold."

Our publication adheres to a policy of promptly correcting any errors discovered in reporting, editing, or design. We do apologise for the error.


Radar

Bank of Abyssinia Signs Partnership with Droga Cooperative

Bank of Abyssinia has entered into a partnership agreement with Droga Health & Financial Savings and Credit Cooperative to provide financial support and services for its members. The agreement was signed yesterday at the Bank's headquarters. The deal aims to strengthen collaboration between the two institutions, enabling cooperative members to access tailored banking services. It was signed by Wosenyeleh Abera, Deputy CEO for Customer Relations and Marketing at the bank, and Zelalem Yilma...


Radar

Wegagen Introduces Real Time SWIFT Tracking

Wegagen Bank has launched a new mobile app feature enabling customers to track international SWIFT payments in real time. The bank is the first in Ethiopia to introduce an online SWIFT payment tracking system. By integrating SWIFT Global Payment Innovation, customers, particularly those involved in import-export trade, can monitor cross-border transactions using a Unique End-to-End Transaction Reference (UETR) directly from their smartphones. To use the service, customers select the SWIFT...


Radar

National ID, Zambia Partners to Expands Program Reach

The National ID Program has signed an agreement with Zambia's counterpart to provide consulting services for the development of software that will issue digital IDs. It is the first time the institution has extended its expertise beyond national borders, a sign of growing recognition for its rapid progress. Program officials described the partnership as a milestone in their effort to position themselves as a regional player in digital transformation. The collaboration is expected to center...