Ethiopia has taken a landmark step in its financial sector with the launch of First Addis Investment Bank (FAB), the country’s first independent investment bank. The bank enters a market historically dominated by commercial bank subsidiaries, signalling a shift toward broader investment options and private capital mobilisation.

The bank’s services include share registration, capital raising, mergers and acquisitions, privatisation advisory, corporate restructuring, and market research, with plans to expand into trading, brokerage, and underwriting in the near term. Registered in under four months, FAB has already announced partnerships with Breakthrough and Arif Pay.

Founded with 28 million birr in paid-up capital, FAB is structured as a private limited company under Ethiopian Capital Market Authority (ECMA) rules. The bank’s 11 founders, each with over a decade of experience in securities, are supported by board chairman Nebil Kello, who spent 15 years at the London Stock Exchange.

FAB aims to differentiate itself through a blended finance model, combining private and developmental capital to fund growing businesses. According to CEO Michael Addisu, this approach allows the bank to provide long-term financing to companies that may not have access to traditional commercial bank loans, positioning FAB as a new engine for domestic investment.