Abay Bank to Register as Fifth Institution on ESX as Weekly Trading Volume Hits Historic 1 Billion Birr Milestone

In its ongoing efforts to make the country’s capital market ecosystem accessible, the Ethiopian Securities Exchange (ESX) has announced that it has officially admitted Abay Bank S.C. as its fifth registered financial institution, after the bank successfully met the stringent criteria and legal preparation processes required for the domestic bond and equity trading platform.

According to the ESX, Abay Bank’s entry into the market will further expand the accessibility of the financial sector and contribute significantly to the development of the ecosystem. It was noted that the bank achieved this official recognition by fully completing all the rigorous requirements and legal procedures necessary for listing.

Accordingly, information obtained by Capital indicates that the acknowledgment and market-opening “Bell Ringing Ceremony” to mark the bank’s official listing on the stock exchange is scheduled to take place as a special event this coming Thursday, June 25, 2026.

The announcement of Abay Bank’s registration comes at a time when the country’s nascent capital market has achieved a new historic milestone. The ESX recently announced that its weekly equity trading volume surpassed 1 billion birr for the first time, a feat stated to reflect the growing participation and rapidly rising confidence of investors in the market.
According to market performance data between June 15 and 19, 2026, it is recalled that a total of 350,111 shares were exchanged across 279 transactions among the four listed companies, bringing the total trading value to 1.025 billion birr.

Tilahun Esmael Kassahun CEO of ESX noted that recording this volume of transactions within a single week represents significant progress for Ethiopia’s young market.

Prior to Abay Bank joining this historic platform, it is recalled that the telecom giant Ethio Telecom—which recently launched its public offering—alongside Wegagen Bank, Geda Bank, and Awash Bank were the first four registered institutions on the exchange.

The registration of Abay Bank as the fifth member is said to be an indication that the process of bringing the country’s financial institutions into the capital market is progressing with strong momentum.

Highlighting the vast potential of the country’s private sector, the CEO expressed full confidence in increasing the number of companies listed on the exchange to between 50 and 60 within the next 1 to 2 years.

This official listing will create a major opportunity for Abay Bank to access new sources of capital, enhance shareholder value, and offer modern investment options to its clients, while expected to provide additional momentum to the rapidly emerging securities exchange in Ethiopia.