How Many Banks in Bangladesh in 2026? 

Bangladesh has 63 scheduled banks in 2026. If you count non-scheduled banks separately, the broader bank count becomes 68. That is the clean answer most readers need first.

The question of how many banks in Bangladesh gets confusing because people often mix scheduled banks, non-scheduled banks, digital banks, and finance companies. Bangladesh Bank’s current Banks and FCs page gives the safest baseline: 63 scheduled banks, 5 non-scheduled banks, and 35 finance companies. This guide breaks down the count, types, and full list without turning finance companies into banks, so your notes stay clean and current for reference.

Quick answer: Bangladesh currently has 63 scheduled banks under Bangladesh Bank. If you count non-scheduled banks separately, there are 5 more, so the broader bank count is 68. Bangladesh Bank also lists 35 finance companies, but those are not banks and should not be added to the bank total.

Key Takeaways

• Bangladesh Bank currently lists 63 scheduled banks in Bangladesh.
• There are 5 non-scheduled banks, which brings the broader bank count to 68 if counted separately.
• Finance companies are separate financial institutions, and Bangladesh Bank lists 35 of them.
• Scheduled banks include 7 state-owned commercial banks, 3 specialized banks, 43 private commercial banks, 1 digital commercial bank, and 9 foreign commercial banks.
• The 43 private commercial banks include 33 conventional banks and 10 Islami Shariah-based banks, which are guided by Bangladesh Bank’s Islamic banking rules and supervision.
• Nagad Digital Bank PLC is listed as a digital commercial bank, but Bangladesh Bank marks it as not yet granted permission for commercial operation.
• Bank counts can change when licenses, mergers, category changes, or regulatory updates happen.

Total Bank Count Table

Use this table when you need the short answer for exams, research notes, job preparation, or a quick search result.

Category	Count	Should it be added to the bank total?
Scheduled banks	63	Yes, this is the main bank count.
Non-scheduled banks	5	Count separately, making 68 in the broader view.
Finance companies	35	No. They are not banks.

Source note: Bangladesh Bank’s Banks and FCs page was checked on 8 July 2026. The count can change, so always check Bangladesh Bank for official updates.

The cleanest answer is 63 scheduled banks, then 5 non-scheduled banks as a separate add-on.

Scheduled Banks vs. Non-Scheduled Banks

To avoid mixing categories, readers should first understand scheduled vs non-scheduled banks before using the broader 68-bank count. Bangladesh Bank explains scheduled banks as banks that remain in the list maintained under the Bangladesh Bank Order, 1972. These banks operate under the full control and supervision of Bangladesh Bank through the Bangladesh Bank Order, 1972, and the Bank Company Act, 1991.

Non-scheduled banks are different. Bangladesh Bank says they are established for special and definite objectives, operate under specific laws, and cannot perform all functions of scheduled banks. That is why the main answer should be 63 scheduled banks, with 5 non-scheduled banks shown separately.

Breakdown Of Scheduled Banks In Bangladesh

Most everyday banking services fall under commercial banks, including state-owned, private, digital, and foreign categories. Bangladesh Bank lists these categories under scheduled banks. The private bank figure can look confusing because 43 private commercial banks include both conventional and Islamic banks.

Scheduled bank type	Count
State-Owned Commercial Banks	7
Specialized Banks	3
Private Commercial Banks	43
Conventional Private Commercial Banks	33
Islami Shariah-based Private Commercial Banks	10
Digital Commercial Bank	1, not yet granted permission for commercial operation
Foreign Commercial Banks	9

If someone asks about public banks in Bangladesh, give the category clearly. Bangladesh Bank lists 7 State-Owned Commercial Banks and 3 Specialized Banks. Together, those 10 banks are government-owned or mostly government-owned scheduled banks, but they sit in separate categories.

List Of Banks In Bangladesh By Category

Here is the list of all banks in Bangladesh, grouped in the same practical way readers usually search for it.

State-Owned Commercial Banks, 7

Agrani Bank PLC; Bangladesh Development Bank PLC; BASIC Bank PLC; Janata Bank PLC; Rupali Bank PLC; Sammilito Islami Bank PLC; Sonali Bank PLC.

Specialized Banks, 3

Bangladesh Krishi Bank, Probashi Kollyan Bank, and Rajshahi Krishi Unnayan Bank.

Conventional Private Commercial Banks, 33

AB Bank PLC; Bangladesh Commerce Bank Limited; Bank Asia PLC; Bengal Commercial Bank PLC; BRAC Bank PLC; Citizens Bank PLC; City Bank PLC; Community Bank Bangladesh PLC; Dhaka Bank PLC; Dutch-Bangla Bank PLC; Eastern Bank PLC; IFIC Bank PLC; Jamuna Bank PLC; Meghna Bank PLC; Mercantile Bank PLC; Midland Bank Limited; Modhumoti Bank PLC; Mutual Trust Bank PLC; National Bank PLC; National Credit & Commerce Bank PLC; NRB Bank PLC; NRBC Bank PLC; One Bank PLC; Padma Bank PLC; Prime Bank PLC; Pubali Bank PLC; SBAC Bank PLC; Shimanto Bank PLC; Southeast Bank PLC; The Premier Bank PLC, Trust Bank PLC, United Commercial Bank PLC, and Uttara Bank PLC.

Islami Shariah-based Private Commercial Banks, 10

Al-Arafah Islami Bank PLC; Export Import Bank of Bangladesh PLC; First Security Islami Bank PLC; Global Islami Bank PLC; ICB Islamic Bank Ltd.; Islami Bank Bangladesh PLC; Shahjalal Islami Bank PLC; Social Islami Bank PLC; Standard Islami Bank PLC; Union Bank PLC.

Digital Commercial Bank, 1

Nagad Digital Bank PLC has not yet been granted permission for commercial operation according to Bangladesh Bank’s list.

Foreign Commercial Banks, 9

Bank Al-Falah Limited; Citibank N.A; Commercial Bank of Ceylon Limited; Habib Bank Ltd.; National Bank of Pakistan; Standard Chartered Bank; State Bank of India; The Hong Kong and Shanghai Banking Corporation Ltd.; Woori Bank.

Non-scheduled Banks, 5

Ansar VDP Unnayan Bank; Karmashangosthan Bank; Grameen Bank; Jubilee Bank; Palli Sanchay Bank.

Difference Between Banks And Finance Companies

Bangladesh Bank lists 35 finance companies, also called FCs. They are regulated and supervised by Bangladesh Bank under the Finance Company Act, 2023, but they are not banks.

• Finance companies cannot issue checks, pay orders, or demand drafts.
• Finance companies cannot receive demand deposits.
• Finance companies cannot be involved in foreign exchange financing.

Finance companies belong in the financial system, but they don’t belong in the bank count.

Why The Number May Change

The number of banks in Bangladesh can change for normal regulatory reasons. A new license may be issued. A digital bank may receive permission for commercial operation. A merger may remove a separate legal name. A bank can also move categories if Bangladesh Bank updates its official classification.

That is why older answers such as 61 or 62 scheduled banks should not be reused without checking the current Bangladesh Bank page. For 2026, the safe public answer is 63 scheduled banks, 5 non-scheduled banks, and 35 finance companies.

Final Thoughts

So, how many banks are in Bangladesh in 2026? Use 63 scheduled banks as the main answer. Use 68 only when you are adding the 5 non-scheduled banks separately. Keep the 35 finance companies out of the bank count, because Bangladesh Bank treats them as a separate type of financial institution.

Frequently Asked Questions

How many scheduled banks are in Bangladesh?

Bangladesh currently has 63 scheduled banks under Bangladesh Bank. This is the main official bank count for Bangladesh in 2026.

How many private banks are in Bangladesh?

Bangladesh Bank lists 43 Private Commercial Banks. This includes 33 conventional private commercial banks and 10 Islami Shariah-based private commercial banks.

How many Islamic banks are in Bangladesh?

Bangladesh Bank lists 10 Islami Shariah-based Private Commercial Banks. These are counted inside the 43 Private Commercial Banks.

How many foreign banks operate in Bangladesh?

Bangladesh Bank lists 9 Foreign Commercial Banks operating in Bangladesh as branches of banks incorporated abroad.

Are finance companies counted as banks?

No. Bangladesh Bank lists 35 finance companies, but they are not banks. They are regulated financial institutions with different powers and limits.

Which authority regulates banks in Bangladesh?

Bangladesh Bank is the central bank and the main regulator of banks in Bangladesh. Scheduled banks operate under its full control and supervision.

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