BizNewsConnect is a media partner for the event being organised by ICSA
ADDIS ABABA, Ethiopia, July 31 (The CONNECT) – The 29th Edition Connected Banking Summit – Innovation & Excellence Awards 2026 will be held in Addis Ababa on August 12, bringing together banking leaders, regulators, fintech innovators and technology providers to discuss the future of digital finance in Ethiopia and across Africa.
BizNewsConnect is the media partner for the event.
The summit is organised by the International Center for Strategic Alliances (ICSA), a global organisation that curates executive-level forums for the banking, financial services and technology sectors. With more than 25 successful editions across Africa, the GCC and other emerging markets, ICSA has established the Connected Banking Summit as a platform for collaboration on digital transformation and financial innovation.
This year’s edition is part of the Silver Jubilee celebrations of the Connected Banking Summit series, marking 25 years of fostering collaboration, technological innovation and modernisation in the banking sector. Organisers said the event is designed as a boardroom-level forum offering direct engagement between policymakers, banking executives and technology leaders.
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Registrations are open now.
Contact – [email protected]
Call: +44 20 3808 8625
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The summit comes as Ethiopia accelerates its digital financial transformation. The country’s Net Interest Income is projected to increase from US$4.55 billion in 2024 to US$5.56 billion by 2028, reflecting an annual growth rate of 5.14%, driven by expanding digital adoption, rising mobile penetration and government-led modernisation initiatives.
Discussions will focus on mobile banking, electronic payments, AI-powered customer service, digital onboarding, cybersecurity, blockchain applications and the growing role of fintech firms. Delegates will also review the progress and expected outcomes of Ethiopia’s National Digital Payments Strategy (2021–2024).
Key themes include digital transformation, financial inclusion through mobile banking, AI and chatbots in customer service, resilient digital banking infrastructure, open banking, cyber resilience, bank-fintech collaboration and financial innovation for the next decade.
The programme will feature keynote addresses by regional and international banking leaders, insights from regulators and policymakers, panel discussions on emerging technologies, demonstrations of next-generation banking solutions, networking sessions and the Innovation & Excellence Awards 2026, recognising organisations driving digital banking across Africa.
According to the organisers, the Connected Banking Summit series has hosted more than four Africa editions, bringing together over 750 curated delegates and 80 speakers while facilitating over 40 hours of structured networking across the banking, financial services and insurance ecosystem.
