TIP: Getting Prepaid Travel Cards ✈️

In 2020, Ethiopian banks were allowed to issue foreign currency to travelers flying out of the country in the form of prepaid cards.

Deemed to be a more efficient way to manage foreign currency outflow, prepaid travel cards are now issued by several banks including Bank of Abyssinia, Dashen Bank, Zemen Bank, Awash Bank, Hibret Bank, Coop (The last two, very recently) and of course CBE.

Here’s a lowdown on the benefits and how to acquire these prepaid cards next time you travel:

Pre-requisites (ANY Bank):

  • Your Passport

  • Your Issued Visa

  • Your Travel Ticket

Prepaid cards have the same look and feel of a debit or credit card

Awash’s Pre-Paid Card

Features:

  • Maximum fund ceiling on cards is USD 10,000

  • Can be used for online payments

  • Eligible for 4 years

  • Operates on the Mastercard network

  • What to know: Awash charges 13% bank charge on the amount that’s loaded on the card

How To Get One:

You will need to go to the branch where you opened your account and fill out a form that clearly

Features:

  • Maximum fund ceiling on cards is USD 10,000

  • Maximum daily cash withdrawal limit on ATM is USD 400

  • Eligible for two years

  • FCY and Diaspora Account Holders are eligible to get the card

How To Get One:

Go to the CBE Branch where you opened your account

Features:

  • Maximum fund ceiling on cards is USD 15,000

  • Maximum daily cash withdrawal limit from ATM is USD 1,000

  • Eligible for two years

  • Retail/Wholesale customers, Exporters, Frequent Travelers

  • FCY and Diaspora account holders

  • VIP’s customers-to be will approved by Director- Card Banking of the Bank

How To Get One:

Go to the CBE Branch where you opened your account

Features:

  • Maximum fund ceiling on cards is USD 25,000

  • Maximum daily cash withdrawal limit from any ATM abroad is USD 1,500

  • Eligible for two years

  • The cards Retail/Wholesale Customers, Exporters, Frequent Travelers, FCY and Diaspora account holders,

  • VIP customer-to be will be approved by Director- Card Banking of the Bank

How To Get One:

Go to the CBE Branch where you opened your account

Dashen’s Mastercard

Features:

  • Can be also be converted into a virtual card

  • Can be used for online purchases here in Ethiopia

  • You can withdraw up to 400 USD from any ATM abroad

  • Runs on the Mastercard Gateway network

How To Get One:

Visit one of Dashen Bank’s Forex Bureaus or one of their nearest Branches.

COMING SOON: Zemen’s Platinum Travel Prepaid Card and Bank of Abyssinia’s Prepaid Card