Coopbank Forex Inflows Hit $303 Million Amidst Financial Sector Liberalization

Cooperative Bank of Oromia recorded $303.36 million in foreign currency inflows during the first half of the 2025/26 fiscal year, highlighting its dominant role in Ethiopia’s international trade and remittance corridors. This performance, disclosed following the nation's strategic pivot toward a market determined exchange rate, underscores the lender's capacity to mobilize external capital. Amidst broader economic liberalization, the bank’s robust forex liquidity signals a strengthening of private sector led financial integration within the regional banking ecosystem.

Beyond forex gains, the bank mobilized ETB 36.71 billion in fresh deposits, bringing its total outstanding loan portfolio to ETB 140.12 billion through aggressive credit disbursement strategies. The lender’s digital ecosystem, COOPay e-Birr, processed ETB 4.87 billion in transaction volume, reflecting a successful recalibration toward fintech driven retail banking across 1.8 million transactions. These drivers, coupled with a 14.74 million customer base, have effectively mitigated domestic liquidity headwinds while supporting essential financing for export-oriented agricultural cooperatives.

Coopbank’s sustained forex trajectory will bolster its market position as the National Bank of Ethiopia implements tighter capital adequacy frameworks. To capitalize on this liquidity, the bank intends to expand its international banking services, aiming to capture a larger share of the lucrative SWIFT based transfer market. This long-term bet on digital transformation and export focused financing suggests a bullish outlook for the institution as it prepares for a potential secondary market listing on the exchange.