Ethio Telecom has teamed up with Awash Bank to introduce Tila, a new digital platform offering credit, savings, and device financing services through the operator’s Telebirr mobile money platform.
This innovative service leverages AI-driven credit scoring to provide non-collateral loans to individuals, salaried workers, and micro, small, and medium enterprises (MSMEs).
Awash Bank has committed over ETB2 billion annually to fund the program. Personal micro-loans are available up to ETB16,000, while MSMEs can access business loans of up to ETB150,000 with repayment periods ranging from one to six months. Employees paid through Telebirr or Awash Bank can also apply for salary-based loans of up to ETB1 million.
A key feature of Tila is its device financing component, which allows customers to purchase smartphones through instalment plans — aimed at users who cannot afford to pay upfront for handsets. Ethio Telecom emphasised that the initiative aims to promote broader digital and financial inclusion, especially in rural and semi-urban areas outside Ethiopia’s major cities.
Telebirr has become a significant revenue stream for Ethio Telecom, with over 57 million users. Since its launch, the platform has facilitated more than ETB31.6 billion in digital loans and over ETB30.3 billion in savings. Additionally, early results from a pilot phase indicated strong demand for Telebirr-based cardless ATM withdrawals through Awash Bank’s network, with over 92,000 transactions completed.
Tila forms part of Ethio Telecom’s broader strategy to expand its digital financial services and improve smartphone access across Ethiopia, driving financial inclusion and supporting the country’s digital transformation goals.
