Mela · የእኛ banking
BUILT AND OWNED BY US

Banking, owned by the
Habesha community.
የእኛ banking።

Send USD home for the best legal rate. Spend at Habesha businesses across the US. One app, one community — and the first banking experience built and owned by us.

Download on the App Store GET IT ON Google Play ★ 4.8 · 2,340 ratings
LIVE COMPARE · USD → ETB LIVE
You send
$500.00 USD
Mela ETB 27,840
Wise ETB 26,790
Remitly ETB 26,420
Sendwave ETB 26,610
You save vs Wise + ETB 1,050

Rates as of moments ago. Compare live, no bait & switch.

01 / 03 THE THREE THINGS WE DO
Send. i

More birr per dollar than Wise, Remitly, or Sendwave — same moment, same legal status. Compare us live.

+ETB 1,050 saved on $500 vs Wise
Spend. ii

Pay at Habesha restaurants, groceries, and salons across DMV, Atlanta, LA. Money stays in the community.

347 merchants live
Own. iii

The first Ethiopian-owned banking experience. Community-funded round opens to engaged users.

2026 round in scope
HOW IT WORKS

Open in minutes.
Send in seconds.

US-incorporated. Plaid-linked from day one. Real human support, in Amharic.

01 2 min

Open your Mela account

ID + selfie. ACH-link your US bank with Plaid. No paperwork, no branch visit.

02 ≤ 60s

Send to Ethiopia at the best legal rate

Compare live, send in USD, family receives in birr in seconds. No card fees baked in.

03 1 tap

Spend at Habesha businesses

Scan a QR at any Mela merchant — DC, Atlanta, LA, Seattle. Settle direct, no 3% to networks.

WHERE IT LIVES

The Habesha economy,
on a rail we own.

347
merchants live · 12 cities
ACCEPTS MELA
Dukem
DC · U Street
Habesha restaurant
ACCEPTS MELA
Buna Cafe
Atlanta · Buford Hwy
Coffee · Pastries
ACCEPTS MELA
Habesha Market
Silver Spring, MD
Grocery
ACCEPTS MELA
Skyline Café
Falls Church, VA
Restaurant
ACCEPTS MELA
Selam Salon
Seattle · Rainier
Salon
ACCEPTS MELA
Anbessa Grocery
LA · Fairfax
Grocery
ACCEPTS MELA
Tana Restaurant
Minneapolis · Cedar
Restaurant
ACCEPTS MELA
Ras Imports
Dallas · Fort Worth
Retail
Browse the directory · Find the spot near you See all 347 →
EKUB · ROOTED IN PRACTICE

“Your grandmother knew how to bank long before banks did.”

Almaz · Tigist · Hanna · Selamawit · Bereket

Banking, by us.
ለእኛ።

Open in 2 minutes. Send in 60 seconds. Spend at the spots you already love.

Download on the App Store GET IT ON Google Play