Awash Bank and M-PESA have signed a strategic partnership aimed at expanding access to digital credit and savings services in Ethiopia. The agreement kicks off with the launch of “Errif be M-PESA / እርፍ በኤም-ፔሳ,” an overdraft feature that allows customers to complete mobile transactions even when their M-PESA wallet is out of funds.
At the signing ceremony, Awash Bank CEO Tsehay Shiferaw said the move aligns with the bank’s broader push for digital transformation. He cited existing digital offerings like the Awash-Birr Pro app and microloan products for SMEs and MSMEs as examples of this shift.
“This partnership is more than a collaboration—it reflects our shared commitment to accessible, affordable, and secure financial services,” Tsehay noted.
M-PESA Ethiopia CEO Elsa Muzzolini called the overdraft product a “major milestone,” adding that it lays the groundwork for more data-driven lending models and deeper insights into customer credit behavior.
The partnership blends Awash Bank’s traditional financial infrastructure with M-PESA’s mobile-first platform, and is expected to extend digital financial services to a broader range of users, particularly those with limited access to credit.
