Awash Bank S.C. reported profit before tax of ETB 38.30 billion for the 2025/26 fiscal year, a 49.2% increase from ETB 25.67 billion a year earlier, according to its audited annual financial statements. Profit after tax rose 56.8% to ETB 29.33 billion.
The bank's board proposed distributing ETB 17.56 billion to shareholders from ETB 20.66 billion available for appropriation, retaining about ETB 3.10 billion to support capital and expansion. The proposal would let shareholders take the distribution in cash or apply it toward additional Awash Bank shares. It remains a board recommendation, not a completed dividend payment.
Total assets grew 41% to ETB 623.96 billion as of June 30, 2026, from ETB 442.60 billion. Customer deposits rose to ETB 469.29 billion from ETB 332.90 billion, while gross loans and advances increased 24.8% to ETB 274.13 billion. The non-performing loan ratio stood at 1.97%, below the National Bank of Ethiopia's 5% threshold.
Income and cost trends
Gross income reached about ETB 84.56 billion, up nearly 31%. Interest income climbed 49.6% to ETB 54.17 billion and fee and commission income rose 33.1% to ETB 22.95 billion. Other operating income fell 33.9% to ETB 7.43 billion, which the bank linked to smaller foreign-exchange gains after the Birr's sharp depreciation in the prior fiscal year.
Total expenses increased 18.6% to about ETB 46.3 billion. Personnel expenses rose 28.3% to ETB 21.50 billion and interest expenses jumped 54.7% to ETB 15.33 billion. Impairment losses on financial assets fell by about half, to ETB 1.25 billion.
Capital market and digital expansion
Awash Bank listed 37,896,928 ordinary shares on the Ethiopian Securities Exchange Main Market under the ticker AWAB on April 23, 2026, following ECMA registration of 54,066,089 shares on March 16, 2026. Its investment banking subsidiary, Awash Capital, obtained its license on November 19, 2025, and began operations on December 18, 2025.
Digital transaction value reached about ETB 1.8 trillion, up 103%, while digital channels handled 85% of transaction volume and 74% of value. The bank's customer base reached about 17.1 million and its branch network passed 1,000 outlets.
Paid-up capital rose to ETB 38.49 billion from ETB 27.87 billion, and total shareholders' equity grew 50.7% to ETB 90.39 billion. Earnings per share increased to ETB 858 from ETB 783.
For investors watching the ESX, Awash Bank's results and its AWAB listing give the exchange one of Ethiopia's largest private banks as a traded issuer. Aksion.ET's own bank financial data for FY2025 had placed Awash Bank's assets at ETB 442.60 billion and net profit at ETB 18.71 billion, figures the new annual report now updates.
The bank said it is developing a new five-year strategy covering financial-sector liberalization, competition, regulatory change and capital-market opportunities, including treasury and investment banking expansion. Those items remain strategic considerations rather than announced transactions.
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