
Bank Of Abyssinia Rolls Out Paperless Banking Nationwide
By Mintesinot Nigussie
Published on 07/28/25
Bank of Abyssinia has launched Ethiopia’s first fully paperless banking platform across its 928 branches, introducing biometric-enabled smart kiosks and multilingual digital service interfaces as part of efforts to modernise customer service and operational efficiency.
The platform, now available in six languages — Amharic, Sidama, Oromiffa, Somali, Tigrigna and English — covers more than 90 per cent of the bank’s network and eliminates the need for paper-based processes. The rollout positions the bank as a frontrunner in Ethiopia’s ongoing financial sector transformation.
Speaking at the launch event in Addis Ababa, National Bank of Ethiopia Governor Mamo Mihretu commended the bank’s progress, noting its contribution to introducing new technology over the past three decades. “Abyssinia Bank has made significant progress in modernising Ethiopia’s banking industry,” he said.
He stressed the importance of using technology to create a competitive and efficient financial sector. “The banking system must be competitive and modernised to work at the level of foreign banks,” Mamo said, adding that streamlining procedures to save customers’ time and energy should be a priority.
The governor also warned that digital upgrades must be accompanied by institutional reform. In direct remarks to the bank’s leadership, he urged the adoption of international corporate governance standards and the recruitment of accountable professionals. “If governance is not addressed, it will become a regulatory concern,” he said.
The remarks reflect growing regulatory pressure as Ethiopia prepares to liberalise its financial sector. Legislation passed in late 2024 opened the banking industry to foreign institutions for the first time in decades. New directives from the NBE impose capital, ownership, and governance requirements on both local and incoming banks.
Bank of Abyssinia CEO Bekalu Zeleke said the rollout reflects the bank’s long-term investment in operational excellence and customer access. “This initiative is part of our commitment to aligning with the country’s economic reform agenda and preparing for the future of banking in Ethiopia,” he said.
The move follows earlier limited paperless initiatives by other banks, including the Cooperative Bank of Oromia, but marks the first full-scale implementation across an entire banking network.