The Cooperative Bank of Oromia, through its mobile platform Coopay e-Birr, has officially launched electricity bill payment services in collaboration with the Ethiopian Electric Utility (EEU)—unlocking new possibilities for rural inclusion and digital convenience.

This move comes as Ethiopia deepens its transition to digital service delivery. Getu Geremew, CEO of EEU reports that around 90% of its five million customers currently use digital payment methods. Until now, digital bill payments have primarily been facilitated by platforms such as Telebirr, Commercial Bank of Ethiopia, Awash Bank, and most recently, Safaricom. But EEU acknowledges that these platforms have struggled to effectively serve rural communities, where farmers often face challenges such as limited access, low trust, and limited digital literacy.

“We chose Coop Bank because of its dominance in the eastern and rural parts of the country,” explained Esayas Dendir, Marketing and Sales Executive Officer at EEU. “The majority of their customers are farmers. That’s a unique reach we didn’t have.”

Coopay e-Birr, with over 7 million users and a transaction volume exceeding 3 trillion birr, is a widely used mobile financial platform in Ethiopia. It facilitates payments for services including Ethiopian Airlines, water utilities, housing corporations, municipal services, and educational institutions.

The addition of electricity bill payments not only adds convenience for users but also promotes operational efficiency and national development goals. For EEU, digital payments minimize delays in fee collection and improve the financing of infrastructure projects. For Coop Bank, the move strengthens its positioning as a key player in digital financial inclusion.

“This isn’t just a new feature—it’s a grassroots shift,” said Derbe Asfaw, CEO of the Cooperative Bank of Oromia. “We’re bringing fintech to the doorsteps of farmers, daily laborers, and small traders who’ve long been excluded from Ethiopia’s digital transformation.”

He added, “We are driven by the belief that digital innovation can transform lives. This collaboration is another step toward building a financially empowered society.”

According to the EEU, efforts are underway to expand the digital payment system across various banks. “We are working to integrate multiple banks in partnership with EthSwitch,” said Getu Geremew.