Addis Ababa — The Commercial Bank of Ethiopia (CBE) announced that it will carry out a scheduled system upgrade on Sunday, September 21, 2025, during which a range of digital and in-branch services will be temporarily unavailable.

According to the bank’s statement, mobile banking, internet banking, ATM machines, POS (point-of-sale) terminals and core banking operations will be offline from 3:00 p.m. to 3:30 a.m. The only service unaffected will be CBE Birr, the bank’s mobile money platform, which will remain fully operational throughout the upgrade window.

Reason for the Upgrade

While the bank has not released technical specifics, scheduled upgrades of this nature are typically undertaken to enhance system performance, improve security, and ensure that banking infrastructure keeps pace with rising transaction volumes and customer demand. Large-scale financial institutions often perform such upgrades during off-peak periods to limit the impact on customers.

Customer Advisory

CBE is advising customers to plan their transactions in advance. Those who rely on services such as ATM withdrawals, point-of-sale card payments, or online and mobile banking are encouraged to complete essential transactions before the scheduled maintenance begins.

The bank noted that in-branch services tied to the core banking system will also be affected, meaning that even customers visiting physical branches may face limited service during the specified hours.

Commitment to Service

In its notice, the bank apologized for the temporary inconvenience and emphasized that the upgrade is part of its ongoing efforts to maintain reliability and efficiency across all its platforms. CBE reiterated that its mobile money service, CBE Birr, will remain active to ensure customers retain at least one digital payment option throughout the maintenance period.

As Ethiopia’s largest and oldest commercial bank, CBE operates an extensive branch network and digital payment infrastructure that serves millions of customers nationwide. The scheduled maintenance reflects the institution’s continuing efforts to strengthen its banking technology and support the growing demand for digital financial services.