Tsedey Bank has selected the Nutanix Cloud Platform to modernise its banking infrastructure as part of its transformation from a microfinance institution to a fully licensed commercial bank.
After 25 years operating as the Amhara Credit and Savings Institute (ACSI), one of Ethiopia’s largest microfinance institutions, Tsedey Bank’s elevation to commercial banking status in 2022 marked a pivotal shift for the country’s financial sector.
Free from legacy systems, the bank had a unique opportunity to design a modern digital banking foundation capable of delivering simplicity, scale, and financial inclusion to millions of Ethiopians across both rural and urban regions.
A key advantage in this process was the involvement of Ethiopia’s Information Network and Security Agency (INSA), which provided consulting support, Request for Proposal (RFP) preparation, and compliance guidance to ensure security and regulatory standards were embedded from the outset. Working alongside local implementation partner Deliver ICT, Tsedey Bank deployed a next-generation private cloud environment integrating compute, storage, and networking in a single software-defined platform.
“Looking at global trends, we saw that infrastructure was moving to hyperconvergence and software-defined networking, and Nutanix stood out as a leader in this area,” said Tadele Alemu, Director, IT Infrastructure Management at Tsedey Bank. “Today, 100% of our core banking and enterprise systems run on Nutanix, and we’ve built a platform that’s scalable, resilient, and easy to manage.”
What began as a decentralised microfinance network has evolved into a modern, connected banking operation with 627 branches, 13,000 employees, and over 12.4 million customers nationwide.
Centralised infrastructure now allows customers to access their accounts and services from any branch, advancing Tsedey’s mission to expand financial inclusion, while the IT team manages all operations through a single pane of glass.
The bank’s infrastructure, initially comprising eight Nutanix nodes, has expanded to sixteen, spanning main and disaster recovery sites. This architecture provides the scalability, resilience, and performance necessary to support rapidly growing demand and future digital services.
“We’ve implemented the latest technologies and we’re proud of how we’re using them,” says Alemu. “When people see us as a Tier 1 bank, even though we’re technically Tier 3, it’s proof that we’re doing things right. This project was more than just deploying a technology solution; it was about building a platform for inclusion, growth, and national progress.”
Beyond the technology, the platform has empowered Tsedey Bank’s IT team. Although initially new to Nutanix, the team quickly built confidence through Nutanix’s learning resources and certification programmes. Today, the bank manages day-to-day operations internally, supported by an intuitive management interface and responsive vendor support.
“Our partnership with Tsedey Bank underscores the power of modernisation done right,” said Tunde Abagun, sales lead for West, East and Central Africa at Nutanix. “Their vision to drive inclusive, technology-enabled banking across Ethiopia exemplifies how hyperconverged infrastructure can help emerging financial institutions scale confidently and compete at the highest levels.”
