29th Connected Banking Summit Opens in Addis Ababa to Drive Digital Finance Transformation
The 29th Connected Banking Summit & Innovation & Excellence Awards has opened in Addis Ababa, bringing together banking executives, regulators, policymakers and technology providers to explore the future of digital financial transformation in Ethiopia and emerging markets.
Held at the Ethiopian Skylight Hotel, the summit is organized by the International Center for Strategic Alliances (ICSA) under the theme, “Building Digital Financial Systems and Accelerating Banking Modernization in Emerging Markets.”
The event comes as Ethiopia continues implementing financial sector reforms focused on modernizing banking infrastructure, expanding digital payments and improving financial inclusion.
The summit has attracted participants from Ethiopia, East Africa and other regions, creating a platform for financial institutions, fintech companies and technology providers to exchange insights on the technologies shaping the future of banking.
Discussions at the event are focused on key areas including digital banking transformation, core banking modernization, real-time payments, payment interoperability, artificial intelligence, cybersecurity, cloud adoption, open banking, digital identity, financial inclusion and regulatory innovation.
These priorities align with Ethiopia’s National Digital Payments Strategy, which aims to create a more resilient, inclusive and digitally enabled financial ecosystem.
The summit programme features keynote presentations, executive panel discussions, case studies, fireside chats and networking sessions designed to encourage collaboration between banks, regulators, fintech companies and technology providers.
Speakers include senior representatives from leading financial institutions and regulatory bodies such as Awash Bank, Hibret Bank, Commercial Bank of Ethiopia, Cooperative Bank of Oromia, Addis Bank, Sidama Bank, Bank of Abyssinia, Abay Bank, Global Bank Ethiopia, Berhan Bank, Rammis Bank, the National Bank of Ethiopia, National ID Ethiopia and the Ethiopian Securities Exchange.
The event is also supported by global technology companies, with cross-border payments infrastructure provider Thunes participating as Gold Sponsor and ManageEngine serving as Associate Sponsor, highlighting the growing role of technology partners in advancing Africa’s banking transformation.
A key highlight of the summit will be the Connected Banking Innovation & Excellence Awards 2026, recognizing financial institutions and industry leaders driving innovation across digital banking, customer experience, payments, financial inclusion, cybersecurity, artificial intelligence, open banking, risk management and sustainable finance.
Over the years, the Connected Banking Summit has become a leading platform connecting financial leaders across Africa, the Middle East, Europe and Asia to discuss the future of banking.
As Ethiopia accelerates digital transformation and financial sector modernization, the summit is expected to support new partnerships and initiatives that strengthen innovation across the country and the wider African financial ecosystem.
