The purpose of this study was to assess strategic human resource management (SHRM) practicesrntowards employee retention: A Case Study of Awash International Bank S.C. Employee retention isrnbecoming a strategic challenge that many organizations faces globally and specifically in Ethiopia.rnThe present study specifically looked at the following factors: reward and compensation, trainingrnand development, work-life balance, employee empowerment, performance appraisal and employeernretention. The study employed descriptive research approach in which both primary and secondaryrndata were utilized. The study population was comprised of employees of the bank working in AddisrnAbaba Head Office and city branches. The target population for the present study was 1192rnemployees of the bank, out of which 300 employees were drawn as sample size to collect primaryrndata through survey questionnaire. The sample design of the study was cluster sampling method.rnQuantitative data was analyzed by employing descriptive statistical instrument namely frequencies,rnpercentages, mean and standard deviation while inferential statistical instruments was analyzedrnusing correlation and regression analysis. In order to clarify the effect of the relationship amongrnthe variables the study assessed SHRM practices that affect employee retention and theirrnassociation, contribution and significance were identified and analyzed. There exist positivernrelationship between employee retention and all five factors such as reward and compensation,rntraining and development, work-life balance, employee empowerment and performance appraisalrnand these factors could predict employee retention. Among these factors, major contributors tornemployee retention were work-life balance followed by reward and compensation and employeernempowerment. The hypotheses test results in relation to the research were supported. The studyrnrecommends that the bank better consider and design employee retention strategy or actions inrnorder to retain talented employees by taking the factors of SHRM practices studied into account.rnThe study was limited to a case study of Awash International Bank S.C and hence it is better ifrnfuture researchers conduct in different service sectors by using other variables to find out whetherrnthe same results shall be drawn.