The three leading private commercial banks registered over 19 billion Br in profits before taxes in the fiscal year that ended earlier this month. Awash Bank remains the industry's top dog with close to 9.2 billion Br in profit before tax. It is nearly 60pc higher than the figure it recorded in the year prior. The Bank of Abyssinia follows with 5.4 billion Br in profit before tax, more than doubling its performance from 2020/21. Dashen Bank is not far behind with close to 4.5 billion Br in profit before tax, a 31pc growth. The industry leaders go into the new fiscal year with intensified competition, as newcomers like Amhara Bank, Tsehay Bank, and Ahadu Bank join the fray.