Ethio Telecom and Awash Bank launch new digital loan and smartphone financing services
Date: 2025-11-21
By: Nana Appiah Acquaye
Ethio
Telecom, in partnership with Awash Bank, has introduced a new suite of
unsecured digital financial services known as “Shadow” on the Telebirr
platform. The services, officially launched this week, aim to expand access to
digital finance and support the country’s broader digital inclusion agenda.
The
Shadow service enables individual customers, employees of public and private
institutions, small and medium-sized enterprises, and agents to obtain small
loans without collateral directly through Telebirr. In addition, both
institutions have rolled out a new smartphone financing option that allows
customers to acquire a device through long-term instalment payments.
Ethio
Telecom and Awash Bank also announced a 16-month collateral-free payment plan
that will make smartphones more affordable for citizens, particularly those
unable to access digital services due to device costs. Officials stated that
the initiative is expected to significantly improve access to digital financial
tools, especially for communities in rural areas where financial services
remain limited.
The
partnership further includes new interoperability features, allowing Telebirr
users to withdraw cash from Awash Bank ATMs and make school fee payments using
the bank’s School Pay system through the Telebirr SuperApp.
Ethio
Telecom noted that the initiatives align with its “Next Horizon Digital and
Beyond 2028 Strategy,” which focuses on expanding digital financial services
and reducing the digital divide across Ethiopia.
