Connected Banking Summit 2025 – Ethiopia Leads the Way in Digital Inclusion

Addis Ababa, Ethiopia – August 13, 2025

The 23rd Edition of the Connected Banking Summit – Innovation & Excellence Awards 2025 marked a major milestone in Ethiopia’s financial transformation journey. The summit brought together banking executives, fintech leaders, regulators, and technology innovators to explore strategies, collaborations, and technologies shaping the future of digital finance in Ethiopia and across Africa.

A Powerful Start: Keynotes & Opening Insights

The summit opened with a welcome address by Mohammed Thoufiq, VP Strategic Partnerships at ICSA, who emphasized the role of innovation and inclusion in driving Ethiopia’s economic growth.

Dr. Yeshurun Alemayehu Adde, Former State Minister for ICT & Digital Economy, delivered the inaugural keynote on Regtech & Compliance: Balancing Innovation with Risk, outlining how Ethiopia can accelerate transformation while ensuring security and regulatory balance.
Brutawit Dawit Abdi, CEO of Wegagen Capital Investment Bank, shared insights on Regulatory Developments and Sector Liberalization, highlighting how policy shifts are unlocking new opportunities in Ethiopia’s financial sector.

High-Impact Sessions & Strategic Dialogues

Leaders and innovators addressed the biggest challenges and opportunities in digital finance:

Fintech–Bank Collaborations Executives from Awash Bank, Global Bank Ethiopia, and Backbase discussed whether partnerships between fintechs and banks will fuel disruption or foster strategic alliances.
Cybersecurity & AI Moses Munguti (Kaspersky) and Ethiopian cybersecurity leaders revealed strategies to combat AI-driven threats and strengthen resilience across the banking ecosystem.
Financial Inclusion Speakers including Assefa Amere (Addis Bank) and Hussen Amde (Wegagen Bank) demonstrated how digital banking, mobile finance, and identity systems are expanding access for underserved communities.
Digital Insurance & Bancassurance – Shiferaw Lencho (Ethiopian Insurance Corporation) and Fikru Tsegaye Wordofa (Society of Insurance Professionals) showcased the integration of insurance into digital financial services as a catalyst for inclusive growth.
The Future of Customer-Centric Banking in Ethiopia – Muluken Demessie, Chief Banking Operations Officer at NIB International Bank, emphasized balancing digital innovation with operational efficiency by enhancing customer journeys, personalizing SME and retail services, and leveraging data-driven insights for product development.
Navigating Disruption: How Corporate Culture Shapes Trajectories in Ethiopian Banks – Endalish Woldemichael, Vice President, Strategy & Innovation at Lion International Bank, highlighted how strong leadership, agility, and innovation enable banks to thrive amid regulatory shifts, technological change, and fintech competition.

More from the High-Impact Sessions

Identity is the New Collateral – Gabriella Abraham (National ID Program) showcased how Fayda Digital ID is transforming governance, driving inclusion, and enabling digital access through innovations such as eKYC, single sign-on, mobile wallets, and seamless banking integration.
Driving Financial Inclusion through IFB – Abdella Adem, Vice President of Banking Business at Zamzam Bank, highlighted innovative strategies, scalable models, and the role of Islamic Finance Banking (IFB) in expanding financial access while maintaining trust and compliance.
Power Panel: Cyber Resilience – Protecting and Recovering at the Speed of Attacks – Cybersecurity leaders including Temesgen Taye (Cooperative Bank of Oromia), Biruk Worku (Abay Bank), Daniel Manaye Kassahun (Commercial Bank of Ethiopia), and Eskinder Mesfin Cherinet, moderated by Moses Munguti (Kaspersky), discussed the evolving threat landscape, strategies for sustainable resilience, and the importance of cross-sector collaboration during cyberattacks.
Digital Finance as a Catalyst for Inclusion – Ifa Abdisa, Executive of Digital Banking at Gadaa Bank, outlined how digital finance can bridge gaps, empower communities, and expand opportunities by driving greater financial inclusion across Ethiopia.
Ethiopian Banks Journey Towards Sustainability – Haile Mekonnen, Division Manager, ESG/Sustainability at Wegagen Bank, will spotlight Ethiopia’s banking journey towards sustainability. His session will highlight ESG integration, climate resilience, and green finance as pathways to innovation and growth.

Recognizing Excellence: Awards Gala 2025

The Innovation & Excellence Awards celebrated outstanding achievements across Ethiopia’s banking and fintech landscape. Key winners included:

Bank of the Year – Commercial Bank of Ethiopia
CEO of the Year – Abie Sano, Commercial Bank of Ethiopia
CISO of the Year – Seyoum Damtew
Excellence in Retail Banking – Awash Bank
Excellence in Digital Banking – Dashen Bank
Excellence in Digital Transformation – Berhan Bank
Excellence in Innovation – Bank of Abyssinia
Excellence in Customer Experience – Hibret Bank
Excellence in Women Empowerment – Enat Bank
Excellence in Financial Inclusion – Abay Bank
Excellence as an Emerging Bank – Shabelle Bank
Excellence as a Rising Mid-Sized Bank – Bunna International Bank
Excellence as an Emerging Digital Bank – Debub Global Bank
Excellence in Inclusive Banking – Siinqee Bank
Excellence as a Promising New Entrant – Tsedey Bank

Shaping the Future of Banking in Ethiopia

The 23rd Edition reaffirmed the summit’s role as the leading platform for advancing digital innovation, inclusion, and resilience in Ethiopia’s financial sector. From AI-powered banking and cybersecurity defenses to identity-driven financial access, the event provided actionable strategies to define Ethiopia’s digital future.

Looking Ahead

As Ethiopia continues to embrace digital transformation, the Connected Banking Summit remains a driver of collaboration and progress. The journey continues with the 24th Edition, where leaders will once again redefine the future of finance across Africa.