Abay Bank was founded by over 4,100 shareholders with an initial capital of 174.5 million birr and a paid-up capital of 125.8 million birr. The bank is named after the Abay River (Blue Nile), symbolizing strength, resilience, and the potential for transformation. In 2019, the bank inaugurated a new headquarters in the Lideta district of Addis Ababa, investing 827 million birr in a 1,600-square-meter facility.