in the early 2000s, Ethiopia’s rural communities faced a stark reality: financial exclusion that left farmers and small businesses without the resources to thrive. Amid this challenge, a visionary named Haile Gebre Lube emerged, determined to transform lives and unlock the potential of Ethiopia’s underserved populations. Guided by the belief that “the best way to fight poverty is through cooperation,” Haile embarked on a mission to create a financial institution rooted in community and collaboration.

Haile Gebre Lube established a project office In  2002  with a bold ambition: to build a bank that prioritized access to capital for the most vulnerable. By March 2005, this vision became a reality as Coopbank  opened its doors, driven by a mission to empower individuals, foster partnerships, and enable sustainable growth.