Ethiopia’s Biggest Bank Doubles Profit to 80 Billion Birr on Private Credit Growth

July 2, 2026
By Mintesinot Nigussie

The Commercial Bank of Ethiopia (CBE) reported a record profit of more than 80 billion birr for the 2025/26 financial year, more than doubling earnings from a year earlier as the state-owned lender accelerated lending to private businesses.

The bank generated more than 272 billion birr in revenue during the financial year, while profit increased by 146.3 percent compared with the previous fiscal year, according to CBE President Abe Sano.

The results come as CBE continues to reshape its lending portfolio. Six years ago, around 90 percent of the bank's loans were extended to state-owned enterprises. During the 2025/26 financial year, however, about 90 percent of new lending, equivalent to 588 billion birr, was directed to the private sector, reflecting Ethiopia's wider economic reforms aimed at increasing private sector participation.

The bank also disbursed 546 billion birr in new loans during the year, representing a 91 percent increase from the previous financial year.

Beyond lending, CBE mobilised 2.1 billion US dollars from export transactions during the year, bringing total foreign currency mobilisation over the past two years to 5.6 billion US dollars.

Building on its record performance, the lender has set a profit target of 120 billion birr for the 2026/27 financial year. It also plans to raise deposits to 832 billion birr and increase annual revenue to 360 billion birr.

Source: FSX Business News