Mobile money growth in Ethiopia not translating into credit access for merchants, FSD report finds
via The Reporter Ethiopia8 min read
A new report from FSD Ethiopia indicates that while Ethiopia's merchant economy is rapidly expanding and digital payment adoption has surged, this growth has not led to increased access to formal credit systems. Over 99 percent of digital payments still flow through personal accounts, not business accounts, making transaction data "invisible to credit underwriters." One mobile banking system serves 83.2 percent of digital merchants, holding years of data, but this data cannot support credit underwriting until merchants transition to business-designated accounts. The report highlights a supply-side failure in the financial sector, noting that 67 percent of micro-enterprises already have formal business licenses, suggesting product design and onboarding models are the primary constraints, not documentation. Additionally, a significant digital divide exists, with 69.2 percent adoption in urban areas compared to 26.4 percent in rural regions, largely due to connectivity issues. Despite a dramatic increase in mobile money accounts from 12.2 million in 2020 to 139.5 million by 2025, only 15 percent are active, with merchant payments accounting for less than 0.2 percent of total digital transactions in 2023/24. The report warns that emerging regulatory requirements, such as mandatory national digital identification Fayda or formal business registration, could deepen exclusion, as only 39 percent of merchants possess a Fayda ID and rural enterprise registration stands at 44.3 percent
Free daily or weekly digest of the most important stories from across 18 African countries. No spam, unsubscribe any time.
This summary was AI-generated from a story originally published by The Reporter Ethiopia.
The National Bank of Ethiopia NBE has postponed its latest foreign-exchange auction, citing unforeseen technical issues. The NBE had previously announced on May 27 that it would conduct two foreign-exchange auctions of USD 100 million each during the fourth quarter of the fiscal year. This amount represents a significant reduction from the previous auction, which offered USD 500 million. The next auction, valued at USD 100 million, was scheduled for June 24, 2026. Demand for foreign currency remains high, with commercial banks submitting bids totaling approximately USD 1 billion in the previous auction, double the amount offered by the central bank, as the Birr continues to weaken against the US Dollar. In that auction, the weighted average exchange rate for successful bids was 159.98 Birr per dollar, with the highest successful bid at 160.90 Birr per dollar and the lowest at 157.30 Birr. Fourteen of the 30 participating commercial banks secured foreign-currency allocations.
Must ReadThe Ethiopian Capital Market Authority ECMA has granted an investment banking license to United Capital Financial Services PLC, a subsidiary of Nigeria-based United Capital Group. This marks the first time a foreign investment bank has established a subsidiary in Ethiopia, signaling increased foreign interest in the country's developing capital market. The license was issued on June 5 and announced on June 9, authorizing the company to provide services under Ethiopia’s investment banking framework. ECMA also approved five board directors and licensed four appointed representatives for the company. This development brings the total number of licensed Capital Market Service Providers in Ethiopia to 18 and raises the number of licensed investment banks to seven. ECMA Director-General Hana Tehelku described United Capital's entry as a significant milestone, reflecting growing confidence in Ethiopia’s financial sector reforms and regulatory framework. She added that it demonstrates recognition of Ethiopia’s market potential and could help deepen market capacity, improve regional integration, and strengthen investor participation. This licensing aligns with Ethiopia's ongoing efforts to operationalize its capital market and attract private investment.
Must ReadThe National Bank of Ethiopia NBE has amended its Franco Valuta Directive, permitting diplomatic missions, foreign investors, and international organizations to import fuel for their own use without relying on the Ethiopian Petroleum Supply Enterprise EPSE. This change allows these entities to use their own foreign exchange for fuel imports, bypassing the need for letters of credit from banks. The volume and value of fuel imported under this scheme will be determined by the approval of the recommending government office. This marks a significant shift, as it is the first time in recent memory that non-governmental entities can independently import and utilize fuel. While the state-owned EPSE will continue to manage fuel imports and supply for most of the market, this new directive aims to facilitate the import of essential commodities without straining national foreign exchange reserves. The directive also extends to other goods and capital items imported by international organizations, NGOs, charities, manufacturers, and exporters.