Bank of Abyssinia marked a transformative milestone today by officially launching its innovative paperless banking service across all its branches.

The groundbreaking initiative was unveiled at the state-of-the-art Ras Special Branch in a ceremony attended by National Bank of Ethiopia (NBE) Governor, Ato Mamo Mehretu, Bank of Abyssinia CEO, Ato Bekalu Zeleke, Senior Executives, bank staff and honored guests.

Replacing traditional paperwork, the new digital system uses cutting-edge technology including biometric authentication through fingerprint and facial recognition, sleek digital kiosks and interactive tablets.

This shift is designed to streamline banking services—such as remittances, account openings, deposits, and withdrawals—making them significantly faster, more secure, and convenient for customers.

Speaking at the launching event held at the Bank’s Headquarters, NBE Governor Mamo Mihretu commended the scope and ambition of the digital transformation, describing it as “remarkable” for its reach and multilingual accessibility.

“Digital transformation is critical, but so is strong corporate governance,” the Governor underlined on the occasion.

The Governor, while acknowledging the progress, underscored that digital tools alone will not secure the long-term resilience of Ethiopia’s financial sector.

He called on banks to deepen their intermediation role by mobilizing deposits, increasing access to credit, supporting productive sectors and improving foreign currency generation.

Bank of Abyssinia’s CEO Ato Bekalu Zeleke, on his part, highlighted that the move aligns with the Bank’s strategic vision to modernize Ethiopia’s banking landscape and enhance customer experience.

Ato Bekalu described the rollout as a strategic response to shifts in Ethiopia’s economic and regulatory landscape. “We see the direction the country is moving,” he said. “We’re investing to align with that momentum and to meet rising customer expectations.”

The CEO added that the digital infrastructure was designed to global specifications, with a focus on operational efficiency, customer access and service reliability.

Moreover, Bank of Abyssinia is implementing innovative Recycling Machines and Multi Machines in selected branches, further reducing wait times and enhancing overall service efficiency. These advanced tools will soon be available in all branches nationwide.

With services offered in multiple Ethiopian languages, including Amharic, Afan Oromo, Somali, Tigrigna, Afar, Sidama, and English, the bank ensures accessibility and ease of use for all customers, irrespective of age, education or technical expertise.

Bank of Abyssinia’s initiative marks the first full-scale implementation of a branch-wide, end-to-end paperless system in the country. The move is expected to raise industry benchmarks for service delivery and digital integration.  Top of Form As Ethiopia strides confidently into a digitally empowered future, Bank of Abyssinia’s ambitious step signifies not just innovation in banking, but also a sustainable path forward.