Ethiopian banks continue to strengthen their continental presence, with six institutions appearing in the 2025 Top 100 African Banks ranking, up from five in 2024 and just two in 2022. This rapid rise highlights the country’s accelerated banking sector deregulation and growing competition, which are clearly translating into measurable gains in capital strength.
One of the standout performers across the entire table is Awash International Bank, which recorded the biggest leap of any bank in the rankings. It climbed 18 positions to reach #50, backed by $507m in Tier 1 capital and a rapidly growing customer base of nearly 12 million clients. This makes Awash not only a national leader but also a continental contender.
Two other Ethiopian banks also ranked among the biggest risers, underscoring a broader momentum rather than isolated success. While East Africa still ranks lowest in aggregate Tier 1 capital ($12.7bn across all entries), it is also the fastest-growing region, and Ethiopian banks are playing a central role in that surge.
With ongoing liberalization of the financial sector, entry of foreign investors, and digital banking adoption accelerating, Ethiopia is poised to increase its footprint further in next year’s rankings — positioning itself as Africa’s next major banking growth story.
Source: African Business
