DBE designates client credit information as permanently classified

Appointed in December 2025, Esayas, former deputy head of the Ethiopian Capital Market Authority ECMA, replaced Emebet Melese PhD. The new policies, approved by Esayas and bank chair Brook Taye PhD, who is also EIH chief executive, include enhanced monitoring to prevent fraud, money laundering, and terror financing, alongside new risk management and audit procedures. DBE is now required to submit regular reports to the central bank.

A new Information Disclosure Policy classifies internal strategy papers, legal case files, client credit information, classified communications, security protocols, and confidential third-party contracts as "documents not eligible for declassification." The bank states this policy aims to protect highly sensitive information, the disclosure of which could harm its operations, stakeholders, or national interests. The policy also allows the bank to decline information requests that would necessitate creating or collecting data not already in its records.