Exchange Rate Discrepancies Across Ethiopian Banks

Last week, significant differences in exchange rates persisted between the Commercial Bank of Ethiopia (CBE) and Oromia Bank. On Saturday, Oromia Bank sold dollars at 168.72 Birr, while the CBE sold them at 164.1 Birr. A customer purchasing 1,000 dollars would save 4,623.80 Birr by using the CBE rather than Oromia Bank. Conversely, a customer selling dollars would receive 4,533.20 Birr more at Oromia Bank, which consistently posted higher rates throughout the week. These rates are subject to availability, transaction limits, and bank-specific eligibility requirements.