Written by The Banking Post
Lending through agent banking surged to Tk 350.23 billion by the end of December 2025, highlighting the fast expansion of the alternative banking channel, particularly across rural Bangladesh.
Latest data from the Bangladesh Bank show that loans disbursed through agent outlets rose 9.75 per cent in the October–December quarter from the previous quarter. Outstanding loans stood at Tk 319.10 billion at the end of September.
Rural customers received Tk 224.28 billion — 64.04 per cent of total agent-banking credit — underlining the channel’s growing role in expanding formal finance beyond urban centres.
Lending through female-owned outlets reached Tk 24.42 billion by December, while rural outlets disbursed Tk 12.82 billion during the period. However, female-owned outlets accounted for only 6.97 per cent of total credit, indicating that women still lag behind men in accessing loans through the network.
Deposits also maintained upward momentum. Total deposits through agent banking rose 4.23 per cent quarter-on-quarter to Tk 497.20 billion at the end of December, up from more than Tk 477 billion in September.
Rural deposits grew 4.02 per cent, while urban deposits increased 5.28 per cent. Deposits from male customers rose 4.21 per cent and from female customers 3.24 per cent over the quarter.
Inward remittances processed through agent banking crossed Tk 2.0 trillion by December, marking a 6.02 per cent increase from September. Rural areas received 90.06 per cent of the total remittances routed through the channel, reinforcing its importance in delivering overseas earnings directly to families.
The rise in remittance inflows is seen as a positive impact of the government’s 2.5 per cent cash incentive on inward remittances.
The sector remains concentrated among a handful of banks. The top five lenders accounted for 74.81 per cent of total agent outlets nationwide and 88.77 per cent of all agent banking accounts.
Dutch-Bangla Bank PLC led the market with 5,631 agent outlets — 27.47 per cent of the total — and 7,844,166 accounts, representing 30.36 per cent of all accounts opened under the agent banking framework.
