Connected Banking Summit Opens In Ethiopia

The 29th Connected Banking Summit & Innovation & Excellence Awards has opened in Addis Ababa, bringing together banking executives, regulators, policymakers and technology providers to discuss the next phase of Ethiopia’s digital financial transformation.

Held at the Ethiopian Skylight Hotel, the summit is organised by the International Center for Strategic Alliances (ICSA) under the theme, Building Digital Financial Systems and Accelerating Banking Modernization in Emerging Markets. The event comes as Ethiopia continues to implement reforms aimed at modernising its financial sector, expanding digital payments and increasing financial inclusion.

The summit has attracted participants from across Ethiopia, East Africa and other regions, providing a platform for financial institutions, fintech companies and technology providers to exchange ideas on the technologies and strategies shaping the future of banking.

This year’s discussions reflect the rapid evolution of Ethiopia’s banking industry, which is being driven by regulatory reforms, growing fintech activity, increased adoption of digital services and rising demand for secure, customer-centric financial products.

Key topics on the agenda include digital banking transformation, core banking modernisation, real-time payments, payment interoperability, artificial intelligence, cybersecurity, cloud adoption, open banking, digital identity, financial inclusion and regulatory innovation.

These conversations align with Ethiopia’s National Digital Payments Strategy, which seeks to build a more resilient, inclusive and digitally enabled financial ecosystem.

The programme features keynote presentations, executive panel discussions, case studies, fireside chats and networking sessions aimed at fostering collaboration between banks, regulators, fintech firms and technology providers.

Among the speakers are senior executives from some of Ethiopia’s leading financial institutions and regulatory bodies, including Awash Bank, Hibret Bank, Commercial Bank of Ethiopia, Cooperative Bank of Oromia, Addis Bank, Sidama Bank, Bank of Abyssinia, Abay Bank, Global Bank Ethiopia, Berhan Bank, Rammis Bank, the National Bank of Ethiopia, National ID Ethiopia and the Ethiopian Securities Exchange.

The summit is also supported by global technology companies, with cross-border payments infrastructure provider Thunes participating as the Gold Sponsor and enterprise IT management company ManageEngine serving as the Associate Sponsor. Their participation reflects the increasing role of technology providers in supporting digital transformation initiatives across Africa’s banking sector.

A major highlight of the event will be the Connected Banking Innovation & Excellence Awards 2026, which recognise financial institutions and industry leaders for achievements in digital transformation and banking innovation.

The awards cover categories including digital banking, customer experience, payments innovation, financial inclusion, cybersecurity, artificial intelligence, open banking, risk management and sustainable banking.

Over the years, the Connected Banking Summit has grown into one of the leading executive forums for the banking industry, bringing together financial institutions, regulators, policymakers and technology companies from Africa, the Middle East, Europe and Asia.

As Ethiopia continues to open up its financial sector and invest in digital infrastructure, this year’s summit is expected to generate discussions and partnerships that support the country’s banking modernisation agenda while contributing to broader financial innovation across the African continent.