Dashen Bank Prepares to Launch Dedicated Investment Banking Unit

Dashen Bank is preparing to launch a dedicated investment banking unit as it expands beyond its traditional commercial banking operations. CEO Asfaw Alemu announced that the bank has completed documentation and is currently recruiting specialists to manage functions such as underwriting initial public offerings, mergers and acquisitions, and securities trading. The expansion follows the bank's listing on the Ethiopian Securities Exchange (ESX) and registration with the Ethiopian Capital Market Authority (ECMA) in late 2025. Although Dashen already operates a subsidiary called Dashen Capital, this new unit will function directly within the bank pending final regulatory approval. For the 2025/26 fiscal year, Dashen reported strong financial performance with 31.4 billion Birr in revenue, 254.5 billion Birr in total assets, and a gross profit of 6.7 billion Birr. The bank continues to work towards diversifying its financial services amidst the growth of Ethiopia's capital market.