Addis Ababa, May 7, 2025 — Ethiopia’s banking landscape is undergoing a major transformation as the National Bank of Ethiopia (NBE) unveils its most comprehensive regulatory reform yet. In a decisive move to modernize and fortify the financial sector, the NBE has issued Directive No. SBB/XX/2025, establishing Risk-Based Capital Adequacy Requirements for all banks operating within the country.
This reform marks Ethiopia’s full-scale shift toward Basel II and Basel III international banking standards, putting the nation’s regulatory environment on par with those of global financial centers. It signals the government’s commitment to Long-term economic stability, Financial inclusion, Responsible credit expansion.
Stronger Capital Foundation: What the Directive Requires
The directive introduces a three-tier capital framework designed to ensure that banks have sufficient buffers to absorb losses, support ongoing operations, and safeguard depositors:
-
Common Equity Tier 1 (CET1): Minimum of 7.5% of Risk-Weighted Assets (RWAs). This represents the highest quality capital — mainly common shares, retained earnings, and disclosed reserves.
-
Tier 1 Capital: CET1 plus Additional Tier 1 capital must amount to 9.5% of RWAs. AT1 includes instruments that can absorb losses but are not common equity.
No Comment Found.