Is there a limit on foreign currency I can exchange at Commercial Bank of Ethiopia?

The National Bank of Ethiopia sets regulations on foreign currency transactions. Personal cash exchanges may require documentation for larger amounts. Contact the bank directly or visit the NBE website for current limits and documentation requirements.

Commercial Bank of Ethiopia

Q: Can I exchange any currency at Commercial Bank of Ethiopia?

Most major Ethiopian banks exchange core currencies — USD, EUR, GBP, AED, SAR — at all main branches. Less common currencies may only be available at larger city branches or require advance notice. The rates table shows all currencies currently tracked.

CBET

Live exchange rates — 14 currencies tracked

Updated: 2026-06-30T08:36:40.150212+00:00

Cash Rates

Currency↑	Buying	Selling
AED UAE DIRHAM	42.8089	43.6651
AUD AUSTRALIAN DOLLAR	106.2727	108.3982
CAD CANADIAN DOLLAR	108.6680	110.8413
CHF SWISS FRANC	191.0672	194.8886
CNY CHINESE YUAN	22.7415	23.1964
DKK DANISH KRONER	23.5949	24.0668
EUR EURO	179.6866	183.2804
GBP POUND STERLING	204.0752	208.1567
JPY JAPANESE YEN	0.9529	0.9719
KWD KUWAITI DINAR	501.1337	511.1564
NOK NORWEGIAN KRONER	15.5642	15.8755
SAR SAUDI RIYAL	41.8684	42.7057
SEK SWEDISH KRONER	15.8885	16.2063
USD US DOLLAR	157.2199	160.3643

Transaction Rates

Currency↑	Buying	Selling
AED UAE DIRHAM	42.8089	43.6651
AUD AUSTRALIAN DOLLAR	108.2931	110.4589
CAD CANADIAN DOLLAR	110.7338	112.9485
CHF SWISS FRANC	194.6996	198.5936
CNY CHINESE YUAN	23.1720	23.6355
DKK DANISH KRONER	24.0434	24.5243
EUR EURO	179.6866	183.2804
GBP POUND STERLING	207.9548	212.1139
JPY JAPANESE YEN	0.9710	0.9904
KWD KUWAITI DINAR	510.6200	520.8324
NOK NORWEGIAN KRONER	15.8601	16.1773
SAR SAUDI RIYAL	41.8684	42.7057
SEK SWEDISH KRONER	16.1905	16.5144
USD US DOLLAR	157.2199	160.3643

USD/ETB Historical Rates — 30 Days

About Commercial Bank of Ethiopia

The Commercial Bank of Ethiopia (CBE) is the largest and oldest commercial bank in Ethiopia, founded in 1963, and serves as the backbone of the country's financial system. With thousands of branches nationwide and millions of account holders, CBE plays a central role in facilitating foreign exchange transactions for individuals, businesses, and government entities. Its forex rates are widely regarded as the benchmark against which other Ethiopian banks are measured.

How to Use Commercial Bank of Ethiopia's Rates

The tables above show Commercial Bank of Ethiopia's current buying and selling rates for all currencies it trades. Here is a practical guide to reading and acting on this data.

Cash Rates Table

Applies when you physically exchange currency banknotes at a Commercial Bank of Ethiopia branch. The buying column shows what the bank pays you for foreign notes; the selling column shows what you pay the bank for foreign notes. Visit a branch with your physical currency to transact at these rates.

Transaction Rates Table

Applies to electronic transfers — incoming wire transfers, remittances, import letters of credit, and outgoing wire payments. If you are receiving money from abroad or paying an overseas supplier, this is the rate that will apply to your transaction.

To compare Commercial Bank of Ethiopia's rates against all other Ethiopian banks for a specific currency, use the dashboard or navigate to any currency page. The sortable tables there let you rank every bank side by side in seconds.

The 30-day historical chart above shows how Commercial Bank of Ethiopia's USD buying and selling rates have moved over the past month. A rising buying rate means the bank is paying more birr per dollar — favourable if you are selling USD. A rising selling rate means it costs more birr to buy USD — relevant if you need dollars for travel or imports.

Tips for Forex Transactions at Ethiopian Banks

→Bring valid ID. All foreign currency transactions in Ethiopia require a valid government-issued photo ID. For larger amounts, banks may also require documentation showing the source or purpose of the funds.
→Transact early in the day. Banks sometimes revise rates mid-morning after receiving updated guidance from the NBE. Visiting early — before potential revisions — gives you certainty over the rate you saw when you checked online.
→Ask for the transaction rate on wire transfers. When sending or receiving international transfers, confirm with the teller that the transaction rate (not the cash rate) is being applied, as it is usually more favourable for electronic transfers.
→Compare before committing. Use the EthioForex dashboard to check whether Commercial Bank of Ethiopia's rate is the best available today. For large transactions, even a 0.20 ETB per dollar improvement across multiple banks can mean hundreds or thousands of birr difference.
→Keep your receipt. Always obtain and retain the official foreign currency exchange receipt. This documentation may be required for customs, tax reporting, or future foreign exchange transactions at the same bank.

Ethiopian Banks & Forex: What You Should Know

Ethiopia's foreign exchange market operates under the oversight of the National Bank of Ethiopia (NBE), which sets the daily reference rate and the permitted band within which commercial banks can quote. This managed system was significantly liberalised in 2024, allowing banks more freedom to compete on rates and bringing the official rate closer to market levels.

Commercial banks are the primary channel for legal foreign currency exchange in Ethiopia. They source foreign currency from export proceeds, diaspora remittances, tourism, and foreign direct investment. The availability of foreign currency at any given bank on any given day influences its rates — a bank with abundant USD reserves may offer a better selling rate to move inventory, while a bank with limited reserves may price its selling rate higher.

The Ethiopian banking sector has expanded rapidly, with more than 23 private commercial banks now operating alongside the state-owned Commercial Bank of Ethiopia. Private banks compete aggressively on forex rates to attract remittance flows and business clients, which is why rates across banks can differ meaningfully even within the same day.

EthioForex tracks all 24 banks in real time so you always know where to get the best rate without calling around or visiting multiple branches.

Frequently Asked Questions

How often does Commercial Bank of Ethiopia update its exchange rates?

Ethiopian commercial banks typically publish new rates at the start of each business day and may revise them mid-day in response to NBE guidance or market conditions. EthioForex fetches updated rates multiple times per day so this page reflects the most current published data. The "Last updated" timestamp in the bank header above shows when rates were last received.

Can I exchange any currency at Commercial Bank of Ethiopia?

Most major Ethiopian banks exchange the core currencies — USD, EUR, GBP, AED, SAR — at all their main branches. Less common currencies may only be available at larger city branches or may require advance notice. The rates table on this page shows all currencies currently tracked for Commercial Bank of Ethiopia. For very specific currencies, call the branch before visiting.

Is there a limit on how much foreign currency I can exchange?

The NBE sets regulations on foreign currency transactions in Ethiopia. For personal cash exchanges, limits apply and may require documentation for larger amounts. Import and export businesses transacting through the banking system are subject to separate NBE regulations. Contact Commercial Bank of Ethiopia directly or visit the NBE website for current limits and documentation requirements.

Why does the historical chart only show USD?

USD is the benchmark currency in Ethiopia's forex market — all other currency rates are typically derived from the USD rate using cross-rate calculations. Showing the USD historical trend gives the most representative view of a bank's overall rate trajectory. Navigate to any individual currency page to see that currency's rates across all banks.

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