Forex Dashboard
Live exchange rates from all 24+ Ethiopian banks
Browse by Bank
Understanding the Rate Types
Ethiopian banks publish four distinct rate types for each currency. Knowing which one applies to your transaction can save you money.
Cash Buying Rate
The rate at which a bank purchases physical foreign currency banknotes from you. If you have US dollars in hand and want to exchange them for Ethiopian birr, this is the rate you will receive. Higher is better when you are selling foreign currency.
Cash Selling Rate
The rate at which a bank sells physical foreign currency banknotes to you. If you need US dollars for travel or personal use, this is the rate you pay. Lower is better when you are buying foreign currency.
Transaction Buying Rate
Applied to non-cash inbound transfers such as international wire transfers, remittances, and documentary credits received in foreign currency. Banks typically offer a slightly better rate here than for physical cash because handling costs are lower.
Transaction Selling Rate
Applied to outbound wire transfers, import payments, and other non-cash transactions where you are sending foreign currency abroad. This is the rate used when a business pays an overseas supplier or an individual sends a remittance.
How to Use This Dashboard
EthioForex pulls live exchange rate data directly from all major Ethiopian commercial banks so you always see the most current rates in one place. Here is how to get the most out of it.
Compare rates across banks. Use the sortable table above to rank all banks by their buying or selling rate for USD. Click any column header to sort. The spread between the best and worst rate can be significant, so comparison is always worthwhile before walking into a branch.
Browse by currency. The quick-access pills at the top let you jump to any of the 25+ currencies tracked on EthioForex. Each currency page shows the best available rate, a full bank-by-bank comparison table, and contextual information about that currency.
Dive into a specific bank. Tap any bank logo or code to open that bank's dedicated page, which includes a 30-day historical rate chart, full rate sheets for every currency it trades, and background information on the institution.
Convert an amount. Head to the Currency Converter to calculate exactly how much birr you will receive — or how much foreign currency you can buy — at today's live bank rates.
About Ethiopian Forex Rates
Ethiopia operates a managed float exchange rate system overseen by the National Bank of Ethiopia (NBE). The NBE sets a reference rate each business day and individual commercial banks are permitted to quote rates within a defined band around that reference, which is why rates vary from one bank to another.
Following the 2024 liberalisation reform, the band was widened considerably, giving banks more room to compete on rates and creating a more market-driven environment. This makes comparison — exactly what EthioForex provides — more valuable than ever.
Rates are refreshed throughout each business day. The "Last updated" timestamp in the header of this page reflects when EthioForex last received data from the banks. For the very latest rate before executing a large transaction, it is always advisable to confirm directly with the bank branch.
Tips for Getting the Best Rate
- → Check multiple banks. Even a 0.10 ETB difference per USD amounts to hundreds of birr on a larger exchange. Use the sortable table to identify the top-paying bank before you go.
- → Choose the right rate type. If you are receiving a wire transfer from abroad, ask for the transaction buying rate — it is usually better than the cash rate.
- → Avoid weekends and holidays. Banks do not update rates on non-business days. Rates posted on Friday may be used through the weekend, so plan time-sensitive exchanges around business hours.
- → Monitor trends. Use the historical charts on each bank page to see whether rates have been rising or falling, helping you decide whether to exchange now or wait.
- → Compare Gulf currencies separately. AED, SAR, and QAR rates often move independently of USD and EUR due to Ethiopia's large diaspora in Gulf countries. Always check the specific currency you need.
Frequently Asked Questions
How often are rates updated?
EthioForex fetches rate data multiple times per business day. The exact timestamp of the last update is shown at the top of this page. Ethiopian banks typically revise their published rates in the morning and sometimes mid-day, so check back regularly if you are monitoring a specific rate.
Why does the USD table only show USD rates?
USD is the most widely traded foreign currency in Ethiopia and the primary benchmark against which all other currencies are measured. The dashboard defaults to USD for this reason. Use the "Browse by Currency" links above the table to switch to EUR, GBP, AED, SAR, or any of the other 25+ currencies tracked by EthioForex.
Are these rates guaranteed?
No. The rates displayed on EthioForex are informational and sourced from publicly available bank data. They reflect the rates banks have published, but the actual rate offered to you at a branch may differ slightly due to transaction size, account relationship, or intra-day revisions. Always confirm the final rate with the bank before completing a transaction.
Which bank currently offers the best USD rate?
This changes daily. Use the "Cash Buying" column sort in the table above to instantly see which bank is offering the highest birr amount per US dollar right now. For selling USD (buying foreign currency), sort by the "Cash Selling" column in ascending order to find the lowest rate.