• QNB gets license to launch digital bank “ezbank” in Egypt
• Move supports financial inclusion, targets Egypt’s unbanked population
• Mobile-first platform to drive access using AI and smart tech
Qatar National Bank (QNB) announced on Wednesday, October 8, 2025, that it has received a license from the Central Bank of Egypt (CBE) to launch a digital bank in the most populous Arab country.
The license for the new virtual bank, named “ezbank,” aims to support the CBE’s vision for financial inclusion and digital transformation, and aligns with the government’s broader economic development strategy, QNB said in a statement.
“ezbank will combine advanced digital technology with international best practices to offer simplified financial services to a broad range of customers,” QNB said.
The bank added that it will use mobile-first platforms, AI-driven tools, and smart risk management systems to facilitate transactions, expand access, and support Egypt’s digital economy.
Tapping Into the Unbanked Population
The Qatari banking group aims to leverage the new neobank to reach the large share of adults excluded from traditional banking services.
Egypt’s banking penetration rate stands at around 30%, while mobile phone subscriptions exceed 96 million, covering 92.7% of the population. This gap, QNB said, creates strong potential to expand financial inclusion nationwide.
Qatar National Bank, which has been present in Egypt since 1978, offers retail, corporate, and multinational services through an extensive network of branches and ATMs across the country.
Walid Kéfi
Camtel to launch Blue Money in 2026, entering Cameroon’s crowded mobile money market led by MTN Mo...
Kossi Ténou succeeds Badanam Patoki as president of the AMF-UMOA. Ténou brings over 20 years of e...
BYD plans to open 35 dealerships in South Africa by Q1 2026, earlier than initially scheduled...
The government will apply a 15% tax on all payments to foreign digital platforms starting Jan. 1...
Francophone Sub-Saharan Africa hosts 860+ startups but faces deep structural weaknesses EY urges...
In Cotonou, Benin’s economic capital and home to the country’s leading institutions, the situation remained calm this morning despite a tense start....
Nigeria seeks Boeing-Cranfield partnership to build national aircraft MRO centre Project aims to cut costly foreign maintenance reliance for Nigerian...
ONCF targets 60% rail-incident reduction by 2030 via proactive safety overhaul Plan expands surveillance, AI tools, drones, and smart fiber intrusion...
This week across Africa, health warnings are mounting due to several intersecting factors. We are seeing a sharp rise in malaria cases continent-wide,...
Mauritius recorded a 56% increase in UK Google searches for “Christmas in Mauritius” over the past three months. The island ranked fourth overall...
Niokolo-Koba National Park, designated both a Biosphere Reserve and a UNESCO World Heritage Site, is one of the ecological treasures of Senegal and all of...