cbe

USD
55.7444
56.8593
,
GBP
67.2742
68.6197
,
EUR
60.3991
61.6071
,
CHF
60.9734
62.1929
,
SEK
4.8329
4.9296
,
NOK
4.6491
4.7421
,
DKK
7.3299
7.4765
,
DJF
0.3122
0.3184
,
JPY
0.3429
0.3498
,
CAD
37.2068
37.9509
,
SAR
13.4497
13.7187
,
AED
13.7354
14.0101
,
XAF
0.012
0.0122
,
INR
,
KES
,
AUD
33.1801
33.8437
,
SDR
,
ZAR
,
CNY
7.0626
7.2039
,
KWD
172.3885
175.8363

awash

EUR
56.5106
57.6408
,
GBP
64.5257
65.8162
,
JPY
0.4037
0.4118
,
CHF
57.4629
58.6122
,
SAR
14.1527
14.4358

abyssinia

abay

USD
55.7444
56.8593
,
EUR
60.3991
61.6071
,
GBP
70.4442
71.8531
,
CHF
63.8465
65.1234
,
AUD
36.6631
37.3964
,
AED
15.1772
15.4807
,
CNY
7.804
7.9601
,
DKK
8.0993
8.2613
,
DJF
0.3122
0.3184
,
INR
0.6684
0.6818
,
JPY
0.3789
0.3865
,
KES
0.3632
0.3705
,
NOK
5.1371
5.2398
,
SAR
14.8616
15.1588
,
ZAR
2.9639
3.0332
,
SEK
5.3402
5.447
,
SDR
74.2906
75.7764

zemen

CAD
40.1728
40.9763
,
EUR
58.6912
59.865
,
GBP
67.4111
68.7593
,
SEK
4.9496
5.0486
,
USD
55.5052
55.5052

buna

USD
54.778
55.8736
,
EUR
60.4201
61.6285
,
GBP
67.3216
68.668
,
AED
13.4962
13.7661
,
SAR
13.2148
13.4791
,
CAD
37.5106
38.2608
,
CNY
6.9339
7.0726
,
USD
7.3374
7.4841
,
EUR
4.7259
4.8204
,
GBP
60.0815
61.2831
,
AED
0.3485
0.3555
,
SAR
4.8953
4.9932
,
CAD
170.2997
173.7057
,
CNY
33.2543
33.9194

nib

GBP
67.2742
68.6197
,
EUR
60.3991
61.6071
,
CHF
60.9734
62.1929
,
USD
55.7444
56.8593
,
CAD
37.2068
37.9509
,
AED
13.7354
14.0101
,
SAR
13.4497
13.7187

berhan

USD
53.4492
54.5182
,
EUR
58.0672
59.2285
,
GBP
62.7892
64.045
,
CAD
36.1521
36.8751
,
AED
13.1691
13.4325
,
YUA
7.1276
7.2702

wegagen

USD
55.6943
56.8082
,
GBP
67.15
68.493
,
EURO
61.0131
62.2334
,
CAD
37.0968
37.8387
,
AUD
33.3569
34.024
,
CHF
60.3518
61.5588
,
SEK
4.8352
4.9319
,
NOK
4.7282
4.8228
,
DKK
7.4063
7.5544
,
DJF
0.3121
0.3183
,
INR
0.6681
0.6815
,
KSH
0.3635
0.3708
,
JPY
0.3393
0.3461
,
SAR
13.438
13.7068
,
AED
13.7231
13.9976
,
ZAR
3.1723
3.2357
,
CNY
7.0459
7.1868
,
KWD
172.3665
175.8138

dgb

USD
55.7444
56.859288
,
GBP
70.4442
71.853084
,
EUR
60.3991
61.607082
,
CHF
63.8465
65.12343
,
CAD
41.1125
41.93475
,
AUD
36.6631
37.396362
,
SEK
5.3402
5.447004
,
NOK
5.1371
5.239842
,
DKK
8.0993
8.261286
,
DJF
0.3122
0.318444
,
INR
0.6684
0.681768
,
KSH
0.3632
0.370464
,
JPY
0.3789
0.386478
,
SAR
14.8616
15.158832
,
AED
15.1772
15.480744
,
ZAR
2.9639
3.023178
,
CNY
7.804
7.96008
,
KWD
180.5115
184.12173

enat

USD
53.1422
54.205
,
GBP
62.1342
63.3769
,
CHF
0
0
,
SEK
0
0
,
NOK
0
0
,
DKK
0
0
,
KES
0
0
,
JPY
0
0
,
DJF
0
0
,
CAD
0
0
,
AUD
0
0
,
SAR
0
0
,
AED
0
0
,
ZAR
0
0
,
CNY
0
0

addis

nbe

KWD
126.8085
129.34467
,
CNH
5.6258
5.738316
,
ZAR
2.6751
2.728602
,
AED
9.9063
10.104426
,
SDR
57.7908
58.946616
,
EUR
48.4016
49.369632
,
CAD
28.7765
29.35203
,
AUD
28.3265
28.89303
,
JPY
0.3389
0.345678
,
SAR
9.7001
9.894102
,
INR
0.5525
0.56355
,
DJF
0.2234
0.227868
,
KES
0.3664
0.373728
,
DKK
5.8896
6.007392
,
NOK
4.2714
4.356828
,
SEK
4.3114
4.397628
,
CHF
41.5822
42.413844
,
GBP
53.539
54.60978

dashen

USD
55.7444
56.8593
,
GBP
67.2742
68.6197
,
CHF
60.9734
62.1929
,
SEK
4.8329
4.9296
,
NOK
4.6491
4.7421
,
DKK
7.3299
7.4765
,
JPY
0.3429
0.3498
,
CAD
37.2068
37.9509
,
SAR
13.4497
13.7187
,
AED
13.7354
14.0101
,
EUR
60.3991
61.6071
,
DJF
,
INR
,
KES
,
AUD
,
ZAR
,
CNY
,
AED

oromia

lion

USD
55.716
56.8303
,
GBP
67.3251
68.6716
,
EUR
60.7026
61.9167

coop

USD
55.6943
56.8082
,
GBP
70.3141
71.7204
,
EUR
61.0131
62.2334
,
SAR
14.8486
15.1456
,
AED
15.1636
15.4669

gadaa

hijra

EUR
59.0833
60.265
,
USD
54.2297
55.3143
,
GBP
64.8713
66.1687
,
AED
13.3629
13.6302
,
KWD
168.849
172.226
,
SAR
13.3629
13.3481

Best Micro Financial Institutions (MFIs) in Ethiopia (2023)

micro financial institutionsmicro financial institutions

The not so low hanging fruit that’s worth its reach

The determined and motivated among us have all wondered “if I just get this amount of money, I could start this small business”, and “….this would be a great time to finance that child care business I always wanted”

That is where the micro financial institutions come in, with their accessible business model, a boon to poorer nations, and the motivated individuals that make some of them up.

 

 

What are MFIs (Micro Financial Institutions)? What do they do?

Microfinance is the ‘activity or business of providing financial services, such as small loans, to poor people or new businesses that cannot use traditional banking services, usually in developing countries, according to the Cambridge Business English Cambridge English dictionary micro financial institutions (MFIs), financial institutes apart from banks and insurance companies, generally aim to provide loans or micro-credits to low-income individuals, small businesses, entrepreneurs, and firms, as well as savings and insurance, to those who aren’t eligible for getting loans from banks. They serve a major purpose in poverty reduction, as such is essential to develop nations.

Since MFIs are considered high-risk operations, the interest rates are usually high, that’s the compromise of getting loans with little to no collateral. Easily accessible loans always come with certain caveats, as repayment conditions could be unforgiving. 

Microfinance does to the less financially secure individuals and households, what banks do to the financially well off. Which is elevates one’s economic status and improve the living conditions when assisting entrepreneurs to get their preferred business to take off.

What governs MFIs (Micro Financial Institutions) in Ethiopia?

The National Bank of Ethiopia (NBE) is the regulating authority for all types of financial institutions. As such the National Bank of Ethiopia “licenses, supervises and regulates the operations of banks, insurance companies and other financial institutions”. 

Accordingly, in relation to MFIs:

  • Ensures the safety and soundness of MFIs
  • Ensures their efficiency and compliance of MFIs with rules and regulations
  • Ensure protection of depositors.

As a licensing authority for financial institutions, thus, NBE sets the requirement needed from customers (MFIs) to get the service or approval of establishment, the primary one being that of licensing.

The National Bank of Ethiopia requires detailed requirements to launch micro financial institutions, which include:

  • Shareholders have to be Ethiopian nationals;
  • The minimum paid-up capital required is Birr 200,000;
  • Has to be established in the form of a share company;
  • 1/4th of the subscribed capital has to be paid and deposited in a blocked account; and
  • Copy of taxpayer registration number.

Association of Ethiopian Micro Financial Institutions (AEMFIs)

 

The Association of Ethiopian Microfinance Institutions (AEMFI), as indicated in their website was formed as a not-for-profit, non-governmental association of the Ethiopian microfinance institutions as defined by Proclamation No. 40/1996 under which microfinance institutions in Ethiopia are regulated by the National Bank of Ethiopia.

AEMFI was “…registered and licensed as such on 28th June 1999 by the Ministry of Justice of the Federal Government of Ethiopia.  The original goals were for it to serve as a platform for knowledge and information sharing, and lobby for political support for the development of an enabling environment for the business of microfinance.

The AEMFI states its mission “To effectively promote information exchange, facilitate enabling environment and build the capacity of Ethiopian microfinance system sustainably”

Since its formation, AEMFI’s goals and activities have broadened to include training, research, performance monitoring and benchmarking and provision of technical assistance.”

As noted on their website, in 2016 there were about 35 Micro Finance Institutes approved by NBE as well as being members of the Association of Ethiopian microfinance institutions (AEMFI).

They were distributed throughout the country, in all corners and administrative regions. Some MFIs based on their potential client focus and as their names indicates are regional in scope, while a number of them are based in Addis Ababa, for example

  • Amhara Credit and Savings Institution (ACSI) (Bahir Dar); 
  • Sidama Micro Finance Institution S.C. (Hawassa); 
  • Benishangul-Gumuz Micro Financing S.C. (Assosa);
  • Kalub Microfinance Institution S.C.(Jigjiga)
  • Nisir Microfinance S.C. (Addis Ababa);
  • Meklit Microfinance S.C. (Addis Ababa);
  • Oromia Credit and Saving Institution S.C. (Addis Ababa);
  • Poverty Eradication and Community Empowerment Microfinance Institutions S.C –PEACE (Addis Ababa);
  • Africa Village Financial services S.C –AVFS (Addis Ababa).

Benefits of Micro Financial Institutions (MFIs)

Some of the acknowledged benefits of microfinance institutions include:

  • providing economical values to the rural mass;
  • Linking capital to communities who lack access;
  • Serving as financial enablers to developmental goals;
  • Encouraging planning and saving;
  • Creating job opportunities; and
  • Offering loans of varied types collaborating with.Commercial Bank of Ethiopia (CBE)

From the little fried food stand and hole in a wall coffee house started via Microfinance loans, women in low-income classes have been benefitting by increasing incomes to their household.

Lately, in Addis Ababa, individuals take out loans of varying sizes from micro financial institutions, for automobiles to then work in the booming industry of Call up taxis or Ride hailing services some moonlighting and others as full time, to pay off their loans in due time and own the vehicle/asset.

Although the success rate of ambitious loans taken out by individuals could potentially leave them worse than they started, to default and for some indebted to insurmountable interests.  

At the very least, if not increase ones income and spending power, microfinance institutions could provide stability, which in one aspect is an antidote to the effects of poverty.

That, in the simple essence is the beneficial nature of Microfinance Institutions for individuals and households who strive for a better living.

Awash Bank

Awash Bank

8.2 Rating

7% Saving Interest

Banking and Services for micro finance institutions

School Tution Fee Collection Services

Lucy Women's Saving

Business Banking

Plenty of business banking choices

Commercial Bank of Ethiopia (CBE)

Commercial Bank of Ethiopia (CBE)

8.7 Rating

7% Saving Interest

Widely used Internet banking

Most bank with several branches and ATMs

Prize Linked Saving

CBE Birr CBE NOOR

For business