CBE announces 2026 graduate trainee intake, expected window April to May

The Commercial Bank of Ethiopia has confirmed it will run its annual graduate trainee recruitment for the 2026 cycle, with the application window expected to open in late April and close mid-May. The bank's HR division has indicated that headcount targets are in line with the previous cycle, with intake distributed across Addis Ababa and regional branches.

Key facts

Bank: Commercial Bank of Ethiopia (CBE)
Intake: annual graduate trainee programme
Window: late April to mid-May 2026 (specific dates per official notice)
Source: CBE Careers page
Roles affected: Junior Customer Service Officer, Junior Credit Analyst, Junior IT Officer

What this means for jobseekers

If you graduated in accounting, finance, economics, management, IT, or law in the 2025 cycle, you are inside CBE's preferred pool. The exam timing means you have roughly 30 days from the formal announcement to the test date. Three actions worth taking this week:

Read our CBE entrance exam guide and start the 30-day prep plan now.
If you are targeting the Credit Analyst track, read the role page so you understand the day-to-day work before the interview.
Make sure your CV, degree certificate, transcript, and Certificate of Competence are scanned, named clearly, and ready to upload. CBE has bounced applications for missing documents in past cycles.

Background

CBE's graduate trainee programme is the single largest entry point into Ethiopian commercial banking, recruiting between 800 and 1,500 fresh graduates per cycle depending on the bank's expansion needs. The trainee classes are posted to branches across all regions after a 6 to 8 week orientation in Addis Ababa.

Sources

CBE Careers page (combanketh.et/careers)
HR notifications, verified 15 May 2026

Changelog

2026-05-15: Initial publication.