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Banking Leaders, Regulators and Fintech Innovators Gather in Addis Ababa to Accelerate Financial Sector Modernisation
Ethiopia has become the focal point of Africa’s digital banking transformation as the 29th Connected Banking Summit & Innovation & Excellence Awards 2026 officially opened at the prestigious Ethiopian Skylight Hotel, bringing together top banking executives, regulators, fintech innovators and policymakers to shape the future of financial services across the continent.
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Organised by the International Center for Strategic Alliances (ICSA), the summit convened an influential gathering of central bank representatives, commercial banks, technology providers, cybersecurity experts, digital transformation leaders and financial services stakeholders from Ethiopia, East Africa and beyond.
Held under the theme “Building Digital Financial Systems and Accelerating Banking Modernization in Emerging Markets,” the summit provides a high-level platform for strategic dialogue, knowledge exchange and collaboration aimed at accelerating financial inclusion, digital innovation and secure banking ecosystems across emerging markets.
Ethiopia Positions Itself as a Digital Banking Hub
The summit comes at a pivotal moment for Ethiopia’s financial services industry as regulatory reforms, fintech innovation, digital payments and increasing technology adoption reshape the country’s banking landscape.
Organisers said the event aligns closely with Ethiopia’s National Digital Payments Strategy and the country’s broader vision of building a resilient, inclusive and technology-enabled financial ecosystem capable of supporting sustainable economic growth.
As part of the Silver Jubilee celebrations of the globally recognised Connected Banking Summit series, the 29th edition continues ICSA’s legacy of fostering executive-level collaboration, strategic partnerships and innovation across the global banking and financial services industry.
Digital Transformation Takes Centre Stage
Throughout the summit, participants are examining emerging technologies and policy frameworks that are redefining banking operations and customer experiences across Africa.
Key discussion areas include:
- Digital Banking Transformation
- Core Banking Modernisation
- Real-Time Payments and Payment Interoperability
- Artificial Intelligence and Intelligent Automation
- Cybersecurity and Digital Trust
- Open Banking and Open Finance
- Digital Identity and Electronic Know-Your-Customer (e-KYC)
- Cloud Transformation
- Financial Inclusion
- Regulatory Innovation and Compliance
- Customer Experience and Digital Engagement
- Data Analytics and Emerging Technologies
The programme features keynote presentations, executive panel discussions, fireside chats, technology demonstrations, case studies and networking sessions designed to strengthen collaboration between financial institutions, regulators and technology providers.
Industry Leaders Share Vision for Banking’s Digital Future
The summit attracted an impressive lineup of banking executives and technology leaders from Ethiopia’s leading financial institutions and regulatory agencies.
Among the featured speakers are:
- Temesgen Busha, Chief Transformation Officer, Awash Bank
- Dr. Andualem Hailu, Deputy CEO, Strategy & Technology, Hibret Bank
- Muluken Demessie, Chief Retail & SME Banking Officer, Nib International Bank
- Tadesse Hatiya, President, Sidama Bank
- Solomon Damtew, Director of Banking, Payments & Settlements, National Bank of Ethiopia
- Fikru Tsegaye Wordofa, Member, Board of Directors, Ethiopian Securities Exchange (ESX)
They are joined by senior executives, cybersecurity specialists, digital banking experts and policymakers discussing strategies for accelerating financial innovation across Ethiopia and the wider African market.
Global Technology Firms Back Financial Innovation
The Connected Banking Summit is supported by leading international technology companies committed to advancing digital banking transformation.
Thunes Leads as Gold Sponsor
Global cross-border payments infrastructure company Thunes is the summit’s Gold Sponsor, showcasing its secure real-time payment network that connects banks, mobile wallets, payment providers and financial institutions across developed and emerging markets.
The company’s platform enables seamless international payments to billions of bank accounts and digital wallets worldwide.
ManageEngine Supports Enterprise Digital Transformation
Enterprise IT management solutions provider ManageEngine, the IT management division of Zoho Corporation, is participating as Associate Sponsor.
The company provides financial institutions with solutions covering cybersecurity, identity and access management, endpoint management, IT operations and network monitoring, reinforcing the importance of secure digital infrastructure in modern banking.
Innovation & Excellence Awards Recognise Industry Leaders
One of the summit’s major highlights is the Connected Banking Innovation & Excellence Awards 2026, which recognises financial institutions and industry leaders driving digital transformation across Africa’s banking sector.
Awards will honour excellence in categories including:
- Digital Banking Innovation
- Banking Leadership
- Digital Transformation
- Customer Experience Excellence
- Payments Innovation
- Financial Inclusion
- Artificial Intelligence in Banking
- Cybersecurity Excellence
- Fintech Collaboration
- Open Banking Innovation
- Risk Management
- Sustainable Banking
The awards have become one of Africa’s most respected recognitions for institutions leveraging technology and customer-focused innovation to redefine financial services.
Strengthening Africa’s Financial Services Ecosystem
Over the years, the Connected Banking Summit has evolved into one of the continent’s leading executive platforms for banking, fintech and digital finance.
The series has connected thousands of banking executives, regulators, policymakers, fintech innovators and technology providers across Africa, Europe, the Middle East and Asia, helping to foster partnerships that accelerate digital transformation throughout the financial services industry.
Organisers said the summit continues to serve as a catalyst for developing resilient, secure, inclusive and future-ready banking ecosystems by encouraging collaboration between public and private sector stakeholders.
As deliberations continue, delegates are expected to explore emerging technologies, exchange strategic insights and forge partnerships that will shape the next generation of digital banking in Ethiopia and across Africa.
The event will conclude with the Innovation & Excellence Awards 2026, celebrating organisations and leaders whose vision and innovation are redefining banking excellence on the continent.
