Addis Ababa, October 18, 2025 — Ethiopia’s national payment switch operator, EthSwitch S.A., has announced robust financial results for the last fiscal year, underscoring its growing role in the country’s expanding digital financial ecosystem. The company reported a 34% increase in total revenue, achieving a profit before tax of 1.42 billion birr, according to figures released during its 12th Annual General Meeting of Shareholders held today in Addis Ababa.

Strong Financial Performance

Chairman of the Board, Ato Solomon Desta, highlighted that EthSwitch’s annual total revenue reached 2.2 billion birr, while paid-up capital exceeded 2.5 billion birr, reflecting strong shareholder confidence and sustained institutional growth.

“EthSwitch has made significant progress in developing a modern and efficient payment ecosystem in the last fiscal year,” Ato Solomon remarked. “Our focus remains on strengthening Ethiopia’s digital payment infrastructure, enhancing interoperability, and improving service reliability across financial institutions.”

Expanding Role in Ethiopia’s Digital Economy

As Ethiopia accelerates its shift toward a cash-lite economy, EthSwitch has become a cornerstone in enabling secure, interoperable, and real-time transactions among banks and payment service providers.

During the fiscal year, the National Switch Center reported processing over 740.1 billion birr worth of cash transfers, facilitated through more than 287 million transactions — a reflection of both expanding access to digital financial services and increasing public trust in electronic payment systems.

Surge in Interbank Transfers

One of the standout achievements of the year was the remarkable growth in interbank transfer activity. Transfers between financial institutions surged by 158% compared to the previous year, reaching 128.3 million birr in transaction volume and totaling 577.7 billion birr in value.

This surge underscores the growing demand for seamless and efficient interbank connectivity, driven by the expansion of mobile and internet banking platforms, fintech integrations, and the rapid uptake of digital payment channels by consumers and businesses alike.

Strengthening Infrastructure and Service Reliability

EthSwitch also successfully completed the transfer of its operations from the National Bank of Ethiopia’s premises to its new headquarters at Zemen Bank, ensuring uninterrupted services throughout the migration. The transition marks a key milestone in the company’s ongoing efforts to enhance operational resilience, scalability, and data security.

The company’s leadership emphasized that this move positions EthSwitch to better support the modernization of Ethiopia’s national payment systems, aligning with the National Bank of Ethiopia’s (NBE) digital transformation strategy and financial sector reforms.

Looking Ahead

With digital transactions surging and the financial landscape rapidly evolving, EthSwitch is expected to play an increasingly central role in Ethiopia’s digital economy. Future priorities include expanding participation among microfinance institutions, integrating fintech operators, and deploying innovative technologies such as instant payment systems and QR-based transfers.

As Ato Solomon concluded, “EthSwitch’s progress is not just a financial success story—it is a critical step toward a fully digital and inclusive economy where all Ethiopians can participate securely and efficiently.”