Cooperative Bank of Oromia (Coopbank) closed the 2025/26 fiscal year with net profit of 6.14 billion birr, nearly four times the 1.56 billion birr reported a year earlier, according to the bank's annual report presented at its 22nd Regular Annual General Meeting in Adama.
The bank's gross operating profit reached 11.48 billion birr before depreciation, amortisation, and loan impairment provisions. After setting aside 2.00 billion birr for loan and other asset impairment, 1.03 billion birr for depreciation, and 339 million birr for amortisation, profit before tax stood at 8.11 billion birr, up from 1.98 billion birr in the previous year. Income tax amounted to 1.97 billion birr.
Core lending income drove much of the improvement. 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 3.00 billion birr, compared with 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 broader foreign exchange reforms.
Lending expanded sharply during the year. Coopbank disbursed 42.73 billion birr in new loans, a 72 percent increase on the previous year. Loans and advances to customers reached 124.97 billion birr, up from 98.14 billion birr. On the funding side, deposits across conventional and interest-free banking rose to 193.26 billion birr, while total assets grew to 224.09 billion birr.
Digital channels and costs
Digital services featured prominently in the performance report. The Coopay-Ebirr service reached 22.3 million users, with 5 billion birr held 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, and the Michu platform has disbursed over 60 billion birr to micro, small and medium-sized enterprises across 3.169 million accounts.
Total operating expenses rose about 38 percent to 14.87 billion birr, slower than income growth, improving the cost-to-income ratio to 60.14 percent. Impairment charges nearly tripled, reflecting a more cautious stance as the loan book expanded.
Paid-up capital increased to 12.8 billion birr from 11.87 billion birr. The bank's network rea branches and 15.91 million deposit accounts. Basic earnings per share rose to 50 birr from 14 birr.
Why it matters
The results show how Ethiopia's private banks are translating foreign exchange reforms and digital expansion into stronger earnings. Coopbank's forex gains and rapid loan growth mirror wider trends in the sector, though higher impairment charges also highlight the growing need for careful credit risk management as lending accelerates.
Aksion.ET's verified bank data shows Coopbank's FY2025 assets at 197.35 billion birr and net profit at 1.56 billion birr. The newly reported FY2026 figures put the bank's assets at 224.09 billion birr and net profit at 6.14 billion birr, a substantial year-on-year expansion for one of Ethiopia's largest private banks.
| Metric |
FY2025 |
FY2026 |
| Net profit |
1.56 billion birr |
6.14 billion birr |
| Profit before tax |
1.98 billion birr |
8.11 billion birr |
| Total assets |
197.35 billion birr |
224.09 billion birr |
| Paid-up capital |
11.87 billion birr |
12.8 billion birr |
| Earnings per share |
14 birr |
50 birr |
The bank's continued expansion in digital lending and deposit mobilisation positions it as a key player to watch as Ethiopia's banking sector prepares for greater competition and potential capital market activity.
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