Cooperative Bank of Oromia closed the 2025/26 fiscal year with a net profit of 6.14 billion birr, up from 1.56 billion birr a year earlier, according to the bank's audited annual report presented at its 22nd Regular Annual General Meeting in Adama. Profit before tax stood at 8.11 billion birr, compared with 1.98 billion birr in the previous year.
The bank's gross operating profit before depreciation, amortisation and loan impairment provisions reached 11.48 billion birr. After setting aside 2.00 billion birr for loan and other asset impairment and charging 1.03 billion birr in depreciation and 339 million birr in amortisation, profit before tax came to 8.11 billion birr. Income tax of 1.97 billion birr brought the final net profit to 6.14 billion birr.
Income drivers
Core lending income underpinned the performance. Net interest income grew about 48 percent to 15.19 billion birr, while net fees and commission income more than doubled to 4.85 billion birr. The bank also recorded a foreign-exchange gain of approximately 3.00 billion birr, a sharp turnaround from a loss of 531 million birr the prior year.
Foreign exchange revenue rose 37.6 percent to 570.8 million dollars, a result the bank linked to wider foreign exchange reforms. The bank disbursed 42.73 billion birr in new loans during the year, a 72 percent increase, pushing loans and advances to customers to 124.97 billion birr from 98.14 billion birr.
Balance sheet and digital growth
Total assets expanded to 224.09 billion birr. On the funding side, the bank raised an additional 18.07 billion birr in deposits, bringing total deposits across conventional and interest-free banking to 193.26 billion birr. Paid-up capital rose to 12.8 billion birr from 11.87 billion birr.
Digital services also featured prominently. The Coopay-Ebirr service reached 22.3 million users with 5 billion birr in wallet savings. The bank executed 987.03 million digital transactions worth 2.74 trillion birr. More than 67,000 farmers received over 6 billion birr in digital loans, while the Michu platform has disbursed over 60 billion birr to micro, small and medium-sized enterprises across 3.169 million accounts.
Cost and network position
Total operating expenses rose about 38 percent to 14.87 billion birr, and the cost-to-income ratio improved to 60.14 percent. Impairment charges nearly tripled, reflecting a more cautious stance as the loan book expanded. The bank's network reached 698 branches and 15.91 million deposit accounts.
| Metric |
FY2025/26 |
FY2024/25 |
| Profit before tax |
8.11 billion birr |
1.98 billion birr |
| Net profit |
6.14 billion birr |
1.56 billion birr |
| Net interest income |
15.19 billion birr |
Not stated |
| Net fees and commission income |
4.85 billion birr |
Not stated |
| Foreign-exchange gain/loss |
3.00 billion birr gain |
531 million birr loss |
| Total assets |
224.09 billion birr |
Not stated |
| Paid-up capital |
12.8 billion birr |
11.87 billion birr |
The result places Cooperative Bank of Oromia among the stronger earnings performers in Ethiopia's private banking sector for the period. Aksion.ET's verified bank financial data shows the bank's previously reported net profit was 1.56 billion birr, meaning the latest audited result represents a nearly fourfold increase in annual earnings.
Basic earnings per share rose to 50 birr from 14 birr, reflecting the sharp improvement in profitability for shareholders.
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