Berhan bank begins operating in Ethiopia
By Muluken Yewondwossen
The newly-founded Berhan International Bank (BIB) officially opened its first branch at its headquarters around Bole International Airport in Ethiopia.
The bank officials told Capital that in a month's time BIB will open three branches at Haya Hulett and two others at Merkato. "We will continue the opening of branches out of the capital in a few months," Belachew Bogale, president of BIB, told Capital. Belachew has been with the state-owned Commercial Bank of Ethiopia for the last 25 years. For around 15 years he worked in managerial positions including the vice presidency for the last three years. He was appointed to the presidency at BIB with a gross salary of around 20,000 birr a few months ago.
The bank held an official opening at the Hilton Hotel, Addis Ababa with the attendance of its shareholders last Thursday. BIB board chair Dr. Daniel Kitaw (Eng) told Capital that the bank decided to begin its service with new technologies, including SMS, ATM and internet banking, real-time payment and different kinds of saving. "We will give 24 hour service with our multi-channel banking systems," he said.
The core banking system is operated by Neptune Software plc London based financial solution service company, which was established in 1999. The project is assisted by System Consultant, a local company.
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