cbe

USD
131.5086
134.1388
,
GBP
174.4955
177.9854
,
EUR
149.8277
152.8243
,
CHF
156.9823
160.122
,
SEK
13.4396
13.7084
,
NOK
12.8108
13.0671
,
DKK
19.7202
20.1146
,
DJF
,
JPY
0.8912
0.909
,
CAD
94.2697
96.1551
,
SAR
35.069
35.7703
,
AED
35.809
36.5252
,
INR
,
KES
,
AUD
83.7181
85.3925
,
ZAR
,
CNY
17.9542
18.3133
,
KWD
420.8198
429.2362

awash

abyssinia

USD
132.2414
134.8862
,
GBP
174.5586
178.0498
,
EUR
149.7776
152.7732
,
AED
36.0105
36.7307
,
CHF
161.9216
165.16
,
SEK
13.8845
14.1622
,
NOK
13.175
13.4385
,
CAD
96.8518
98.7888
,
SAR
35.2597
35.9649
,
CNY
18.416
18.7843

abay

USD
132.2453
134.8902
,
GBP
179.7874
183.3832
,
EUR
153.4442
156.5131
,
AED
36.0067
36.7268
,
ZAR
7.4337
7.5824
,
SAR
35.2504
35.9554
,
JPY
0.922
0.9404
,
CHF
162.8636
166.1209
,
AUD
86.1842
87.9079
,
CNY
18.4275
18.7961

zemen

CAD
97.0856
99.0273
,
EUR
148.7501
151.7251
,
GBP
173.9501
177.4291
,
SEK
13.9393
14.2181
,
USD
132.3774
135.0249

buna

USD
132.2524
134.8974
,
EUR
148.7074
151.6815
,
GBP
173.5644
177.0357
,
AED
35.7075
36.4217
,
SAR
34.1012
34.7832
,
CAD
89.1012
90.8832
,
AUD
64.239
65.5238
,
JPY
0.8603
0.8775

nib

USD
131.9869
134.6267
,
GBP
178.084
181.6457
,
EUR
149.696
152.6899
,
CHF
160.023
163.2234
,
CAD
95.6878
97.6015
,
AED
35.9349
36.6536
,
SAR
35.1881
35.8918

berhan

USD
132.3117
134.9579
,
EUR
153.5213
156.5917
,
GBP
179.8778
183.4753
,
CAD
97.0454
98.9863
,
AED
36.0247
36.7452
,
CNY
18.4368
18.8055

wegagen

USD
132.3285
134.9751
,
GBP
179.5831
183.1749
,
EUR
152.8263
155.8828
,
CHF
163.0816
166.3433
,
SEK
13.9474
14.2265
,
CNY
18.4201
18.7885
,
JPY
0.9131
0.9313
,
AED
36.0331
36.7537

dgb

USD
132.0724
134.7138
,
EUR
148.5321
151.5027
,
GBP
167.2316
170.5762
,
CHF
130.8214
133.4378
,
SAR
29.9468
30.5457
,
AED
35.8921
36.6099
,
CAD
79.1617
80.7449

enat

USD
131.9999
134.6398
,
EUR
149.5378
152.5286
,
GBP
173.5986
177.0706

ahadu

USD
132.2603
134.95
,
GBP
174.1091
177.5913
,
EUR
147.0413
149.9821
,
CAD
58.8603
61.8033
,
SAR
21.7111
22.7967
,
AED
22.1751
23.2839

addis

USD
132.4603
135.1095
,
EUR
149.9121
152.9103
,
GBP
176.8196
180.356
,
SAR
35.3171
36.0234
,
CHF
160.7918
164.0077
,
AED
36.0632
36.7845
,
KWD
0
0

dashen

USD
131.8746
134.5121
,
EUR
146.3808
149.3084
,
GBP
169.7623
173.1576
,
CAD
86.2457
87.9706
,
AED
32.4921
33.1419
,
SAR
31.8121
32.4484
,
CNY
16.5312
16.8618

oromia

USD
132.3112
134.9574
,
GBP
174.3332
177.8199
,
EUR
146.5876
149.5193
,
CHF
162.9448
166.2037
,
SAR
35.2679
35.9733
,
AED
36.0246
36.7451

lion

USD
132.335
134.9817
,
GBP
174.6382
178.131
,
EUR
150.0776
153.0792

developmentbank

USD
131.8409
134.4777
,
GBP
177.5897
181.1415
,
EUR
150.4173
153.4256
,
CHF
160.0399
163.2407
,
SEK
13.7121
13.9864
,
NOK
13.0176
13.2779
,
DKK
20.1659
20.5693
,
DJF
0.7384
0.7532
,
JPY
0.9076
0.9258
,
CAD
96.3397
98.2665
,
SAR
35.1519
35.855
,
AED
35.8946
36.6125
,
INR
1.5425
1.5734
,
KES
1.0189
1.0392
,
AUD
85.8021
87.5181
,
SDR
179.4355
183.0242
,
ZAR
7.4483
7.5973
,
CNY
18.3456
18.7125
,
KWD
430.3287
438.9353

coop

USD
131.8606
134.4978
,
GBP
168.331
171.6976
,
EUR
143.4649
146.3342
,
AED
32.994
33.6538
,
SAR
32.2674
32.9128

gadaa

USD
132.3432
134.9901
,
GBP
164.0356
167.3163
,
EUR
150.4273
153.4358
,
AED
33.7659
34.4412
,
SAR
33.0073
33.6674
,
CHF
134.1436
136.8265

hijra

USD
132.1012
134.7432
,
EUR
148.0274
150.988
,
GBP
173.2815
176.7471
,
SAR
35.8419
36.5587
,
AED
36.597
37.329

amhara

USD
132.998
135.658
,
GBP
179.7069
183.301
,
EUR
152.0832
155.1249
,
CAD
97.1923
99.1362
,
AED
36.2156
36.9399
,
SAR
35.4624
36.1716

tsehay

USD
131.5382
134.169
,
GBP
169.2591
172.6443
,
EUR
147.856
150.8131
,
CAD
89.6864
91.4801
,
SAR
33.3311
33.9977
,
AED
34.0606
34.7419
,
AED

tsedey

USD
132.2392
134.8839
,
EUR
153.4371
156.5058
,
GBP
179.7791
183.3747
,
AED
36.005
36.7251
,
CHF
162.8561
166.1132
,
SEK
14.0065
14.2866
,
NOK
13.2585
13.5237
,
DKK
20.5692
20.9805
,
DJF
0.7406
0.7554
,
INR
1.546
1.5769
,
JPY
0.9219
0.9404
,
CAD
96.9922
98.932
,
SAR
35.2487
35.9537
,
ZAR
7.4334
7.5821
,
CNY
18.4267
18.7952
,
KWD
432.2766
440.9221
,
KES
1.0219
1.0424

siinqee

USD
132.0996
134.7416
,
EUR
150.5593
153.5705
,
GBP
178.7073
182.2814
,
SAR
23.1262
23.5887
,
CHF
123.4786
125.9482
,
AED
36.3332
37.0599

hibret

USD
132.2
134.844
,
EUR
149.0078
151.988
,
GBP
171.2119
174.6361
,
CHF
148.0209
150.9813

gohbetoch

USD
132.2305
134.8751
,
EUR
148.8552
151.8323
,
GBP
174.4931
177.9078
,
AED
35.0447
35.7758

zamzam

USD
132
134.64
,
GBP
177.072
180.6134
,
AED
36.2533
36.9784
,
EUR
149.748
152.743
,
SAR
35.3367
36.0434
,
CAD
95.625
94.5375
,
CHF
160.185
163.3887

nbe

JPY
0.9296
0.9389
,
KWD
437.0664
441.4371
,
CNY
18.6464
18.8329
,
ZAR
7.5052
7.5802
,
XDR
182.3467
184.1702
,
EUR
152.6013
154.1273
,
AED
36.4948
36.8597
,
SAR
35.7387
36.0961
,
AUD
86.7833
87.6511
,
CAD
97.746
98.7235
,
USD
134.0489
134.1149
,
KES
1.0351
1.0662
,
INR
1.5601
1.5757
,
DJF
0.7508
0.7733
,
DKK
20.4614
20.666
,
NOK
13.2437
13.3762
,
SEK
13.9438
14.0833
,
CHF
162.7597
164.3873
,
GBP
181.2877
183.1006

binance

USDT
157.29
156.69

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

15% Loan 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

15.5% Loan Interest

Widely used Internet banking

Most bank with several branches and ATMs

Prize Linked Saving

CBE Birr CBE NOOR

For business