ZamZam Bank S.C. has surpassed ETB 1 billion in digital Sharia-compliant financing through its Ansar platform, reaching more than 10,000 micro, small, and medium-sized enterprises (MSMEs) across Ethiopia.
The milestone comes through the bank’s partnership with Kifiya, whose AI-powered decisioning and Sharia-compliant financing infrastructure supports the digital financing platform. According to the institutions, Ansar has also expanded its reach to more than 18,800 merchants nationwide, with a significant share of the growth recorded over the past six months.
Ansar integrates ZamZam Bank’s Islamic banking services with Kifiya’s AI-native risk decisioning, financial infrastructure, and ongoing risk management capabilities, enabling structured financing that aligns with Sharia principles.
The initiative has also advanced financial inclusion, with 82% of financed customers being women-led businesses. In addition, a significant proportion of beneficiaries are first-time borrowers, highlighting the platform’s role in extending access to formal Islamic financing for entrepreneurs who have traditionally faced barriers to credit.
The two organizations said the achievement reflects close collaboration between their technology, operations, and banking teams, with the partnership continuing to expand access to digital Islamic financial services and promote broader participation in Ethiopia’s formal financial system.
The milestone underscores the growing adoption of digital Islamic finance solutions as demand for accessible and Sharia-compliant financial services continues to increase across Ethiopia.
