Abay Bank's Paid-up Capital Surges, Battles Liquidity Hurdles


Abay Bank's Paid-up Capital Surges, Battles Liquidity Hurdles

The third-generation Abay Bank has solidified its position with marked growth in paid-up capital of 6.01 billon Br, showing a 27pc surge from the previous year. It registered revenues of 8.4 billion Br, marking a 19pc increase while its assets soared by 21pc to reach 66.4 billion Br. However, the bank's net profit showed a nominal decline to 1.5 billion Br, shrinking by 3pc, while earnings per share declined to 280 Br. With over 3.5 million customers, deposits have surged by a whooping 26pc to 52.6 billion Br. Despite the bank being tested by liquidity hurdles due to the 14pc credit cap put on by the Central Bank, total loan portfolio stood at 41.7 billion Br. The bank incurred a total expense of 6.4billion birr, making a 30pc  increase from the previous year. Amlaku Asres (PhD), board chairman, pointed to the domestic and international challenges affecting banking activities while the emergence of new technologies has created opportunity for the bank to test new waters. Yehuala Gesese, presidant of the Bank, noted that the bank has formed new strategies where rebranding the bank has played a crucial part. He added that that expanding digital services through internet and mobile banking services has played a role in bank’s growth.


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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...


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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...


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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...