The asymmetric unit of the title compound, C 19H 20N 2O 3, contains two molecules ( A and B) with slightly different orientations of the ethyl groups with respect to the attached carboxylate groups. Intramolecular C—H⋯O hydrogen bonds generate S(8) ring motifs in both molecules A and B. In each molecule, the benzimidazole ring system is essentially planar, with maximum deviations of 0.023 (1) and 0.020 (1) Å, respectively, for molecules A and B. The dihedral angle between the benzimidazole ring system and the phenyl ring is 37.34 (5)° for molecule A and 42.42 (5)° for molecule B. In the crystal, O—H⋯N and C—H⋯O hydrogen bonds link the molecules into [100] columns with a cross-section of two-molecule by two-molecule wide, and further stabilization is provided by weak C—H⋯π and π–π interactions [centroid separations = 3.5207 (7) and 3.6314 (8) Å].