Awash Bank S.C. has officially listed its shares on the Ethiopian Securities Exchange (ESX) main market, becoming the largest private bank and the second financial institution to join Ethiopia’s emerging capital market.

The listing follows the registration of over 54 million shares with the Ethiopian Capital Market Authority and their dematerialisation through the National Bank of Ethiopia’s Central Securities Depository. A total of 37.9 million shares are now listed under the ticker symbol AWAB.

The milestone was marked by a bell-ringing ceremony at the ESX trading floor, signaling growing institutional confidence in Ethiopia’s capital market infrastructure.

ESX CEO Tilahun Esmael Kassahun described the development as a significant step in deepening the market, noting that Awash Bank’s listing enhances investment opportunities and supports the creation of a more diversified and regulated financial ecosystem.

For Awash Bank, the listing is expected to strengthen its capital structure and open new avenues for raising funds, while also setting a precedent for other large corporates to enter the market.

CEO Tsehay Shiferaw stated that the move reflects the bank’s long-standing position as a market pioneer, highlighting its commitment to innovation and long-term value creation for its more than 12,000 shareholders.

Established in 1994, Awash Bank remains Ethiopia’s largest private commercial bank, with over 1,000 branches nationwide and a leading role in digital banking and financial inclusion.