Scheduled Banks In Bangladesh: Updated 2026 List

Q: What makes a bank "scheduled" in Bangladesh?

A bank is called a scheduled bank when it is officially included in the schedule of Bangladesh Bank under the Bangladesh Bank Order, 1972 and is licensed under the Bank Company Act, 1991. In simple words, it is a fully approved bank that meets minimum capital, reserve, and regulatory conditions set by Bangladesh Bank and is allowed to offer standard banking services across the country. Scheduled banks must follow strict rules on capital adequacy, liquidity, reporting, and risk management; because of this tighter supervision, they are generally considered safer and more reliable for depositors and businesses.

Q: How many scheduled banks are there right now?

As of 2025, there are about 62 scheduled banks in Bangladesh, including state-owned commercial banks, specialized banks, private commercial banks (both conventional and Islami), and foreign bank branches. However, this number can change when banks merge, new banks are approved, or some convert to full Islamic operations, so it is always wise to check the latest list on the Bangladesh Bank website before quoting an exact figure.

Q: What are the main categories of scheduled banks?

Scheduled banks in Bangladesh are usually grouped into four main categories: 1) State-Owned Commercial Banks (SOCBs) – government-owned banks that handle retail, corporate, and government banking; 2) Specialized Banks (SDBs) – banks focused on specific sectors like agriculture, industry, or exports; 3) Private Commercial Banks (PCBs) – privately owned banks, divided into conventional private commercial banks and Islami (Shariah-based) private commercial banks; and 4) Foreign Commercial Banks (Branches) – branches of international banks operating inside Bangladesh. The exact number in each category can change over time due to mergers, license changes, or policy decisions.

Q: Are Islamic banks considered scheduled banks?

Yes. Many Islamic or Shariah-based banks in Bangladesh are scheduled banks. Most of them fall under the category of “Private Commercial Banks — Islami (Shariah-based)” and are fully supervised by Bangladesh Bank like any other scheduled bank. “Islamic” or “Shariah-based” simply describes the way the bank operates (interest-free, asset-backed, profit–loss sharing, etc.) and does not change the fact that they are scheduled, licensed banks listed by the central bank.

Q: Where can I check the official list?

You can always check the official list of scheduled banks on the Bangladesh Bank website. The central bank regularly publishes lists of scheduled banks and financial institutions as well as quarterly “Scheduled Banks Statistics” reports, which contain the official names, categories, and other key details. For the most accurate and up-to-date information, rely on these Bangladesh Bank sources rather than second-hand summaries.

Q: What’s the difference between scheduled and non-scheduled banks?

The core differences are licensing, scope, and central bank facilities. Scheduled banks are listed by Bangladesh Bank, meet regulatory requirements (capital, reserves, reporting), and can use full central bank facilities; they offer standard deposit, loan, and payment services nationwide. Non-scheduled banks are usually created under special laws for limited purposes and cannot offer the full range of commercial banking services; they may have more restrictions on taking deposits or using central bank refinancing. For most individuals, freelancers, and businesses, working with a scheduled bank is the safer and more flexible choice.

Q: Have there been recent mergers or conversions?

Yes. In recent years, Bangladesh Bank and the government have pushed for sector clean-up and consolidation. Several financially weak banks have been identified for restructuring or merger, including some Islamic banks that may be combined into a larger Shariah-based state-owned bank to stabilise the sector. Because of these planned mergers and any future policy decisions, the exact number and mix of scheduled banks can change, so if you are opening a new account or planning long-term business banking, it is wise to quickly check the latest updates from Bangladesh Bank or reliable financial news sources.

Scheduled banks are the institutions officially listed by the Bangladesh Bank and fully licensed to offer standard banking services. If you’re researching scheduled banks in Bangladesh, here’s the quick picture: Bangladesh has about 62 scheduled banks based on the latest publicly reported update, but the active list should always be verified from the Bangladesh Bank because recent mergers have changed some bank names and categories. Counts can change when mergers happen or when a bank converts to full Islamic operations, so always check the latest statistics.

In this blog, you’ll get a definition, an updated category-wise list of scheduled banks based on the latest available public information, and a quick scheduled vs non-scheduled comparison. We’ll also flag recent changes to watch and answer common FAQs, so you can understand Bangladesh’s banking landscape more clearly.

What are Scheduled Banks in Bangladesh?

A scheduled bank is a bank that Bangladesh Bank has formally included on its official schedule under the Bangladesh Bank Order, 1972, and that is licensed under the Bank Company Act, 1991. In everyday terms, these are fully authorized, regulated banks allowed to provide standard commercial banking services nationwide.

Why it matters: scheduled banks operate under closer supervision, can access standard central bank facilities, and inspire greater public confidence due to stronger oversight.

Inclusion on Bangladesh Bank’s schedule (Order 1972) + licensing under Bank Company Act, 1991.

List of Scheduled Banks in Bangladesh

Use the table below for quick reference. Ownership and operating model are shown at a glance. Recent rename/merger or conversion notes appear in the last column.

Bank Name	Category (SOCB/SDB/PCB Conventional/PCB Islami/Foreign)	Islamic/Conventional	Ownership (Govt/Private/Foreign Branch)	Notes (merger/rename/conversion)
Sonali Bank	SOCB	Conventional	Government	—
Janata Bank	SOCB	Conventional	Government	—
Agrani Bank	SOCB	Conventional	Government	—
Rupali Bank	SOCB	Conventional	Government	—
BASIC Bank	SOCB	Conventional	Government	—
Bangladesh Development Bank (BDBL)	SOCB	Conventional	Government	—
Bangladesh Krishi Bank	SDB	Conventional	Government	Agriculture mandate
Rajshahi Krishi Unnayan Bank (RAKUB)	SDB	Conventional	Government	Regional agriculture
Probashi Kallyan Bank (PKB)	SDB	Conventional	Government	Expatriate-focused
AB Bank PLC	PCB Conventional	Conventional	Private	—
Bangladesh Commerce Bank	PCB Conventional	Conventional	Private	—
Bank Asia PLC	PCB Conventional	Conventional	Private	—
Bengal Commercial Bank	PCB Conventional	Conventional	Private	Newer PCB
BRAC Bank PLC	PCB Conventional	Conventional	Private	—
City Bank PLC	PCB Conventional	Conventional	Private	—
Citizens Bank PLC	PCB Conventional	Conventional	Private	Newer PCB
Community Bank Bangladesh PLC	PCB Conventional	Conventional	Private	—
Dhaka Bank PLC	PCB Conventional	Conventional	Private	—
Dutch-Bangla Bank PLC	PCB Conventional	Conventional	Private	—
Eastern Bank PLC (EBL)	PCB Conventional	Conventional	Private	—
IFIC Bank PLC	PCB Conventional	Conventional	Private	—
Jamuna Bank Ltd.	PCB Conventional	Conventional	Private	—
Meghna Bank PLC	PCB Conventional	Conventional	Private	—
Mercantile Bank PLC	PCB Conventional	Conventional	Private	—
Midland Bank Ltd.	PCB Conventional	Conventional	Private	—
Modhumoti Bank Ltd.	PCB Conventional	Conventional	Private	—
Mutual Trust Bank PLC (MTB)	PCB Conventional	Conventional	Private	—
NCC Bank PLC	PCB Conventional	Conventional	Private	—
NRB Bank Ltd.	PCB Conventional	Conventional	Private	—
NRBC Bank PLC	PCB Conventional	Conventional	Private	NRB Commercial
ONE Bank PLC	PCB Conventional	Conventional	Private	—
Premier Bank PLC	PCB Conventional	Conventional	Private	—
Prime Bank PLC	PCB Conventional	Conventional	Private	—
Pubali Bank PLC	PCB Conventional	Conventional	Private	—
SBAC Bank PLC	PCB Conventional	Conventional	Private	South Bangla Agri & Commerce
Shimanto Bank Ltd.	PCB Conventional	Conventional	Private	—
Southeast Bank Ltd.	PCB Conventional	Conventional	Private	—
Trust Bank PLC	PCB Conventional	Conventional	Private	—
United Commercial Bank PLC (UCB)	PCB Conventional	Conventional	Private	—
Uttara Bank PLC	PCB Conventional	Conventional	Private	—
Islami Bank Bangladesh PLC	PCB Islami	Islamic	Private	—
Al-Arafah Islami Bank PLC	PCB Islami	Islamic	Private	—
Shahjalal Islami Bank PLC	PCB Islami	Islamic	Private	—
Social Islami Bank PLC (SIBL)	PCB Islami	Islamic	Private	—
EXIM Bank PLC	PCB Islami	Islamic	Private	—
First Security Islami Bank PLC	PCB Islami	Islamic	Private	—
Global Islami Bank PLC	PCB Islami	Islamic	Private	Former NRB Global (converted)
ICB Islamic Bank PLC	PCB Islami	Islamic	Private	—
Standard Bank PLC	PCB Islami	Islamic	Private	Converted to full Islamic
Union Bank PLC	PCB Islami	Islamic	Private	—
Standard Chartered Bank	Foreign	Conventional	Foreign Branch	—
HSBC	Foreign	Conventional	Foreign Branch	—
Citibank N.A.	Foreign	Conventional	Foreign Branch	—
Commercial Bank of Ceylon PLC	Foreign	Conventional	Foreign Branch	—
State Bank of India	Foreign	Conventional	Foreign Branch	—
Woori Bank	Foreign	Conventional	Foreign Branch	—
Bank Alfalah Ltd.	Foreign	Conventional	Foreign Branch	—
Habib Bank Ltd.	Foreign	Conventional	Foreign Branch	—
National Bank of Pakistan	Foreign	Conventional	Foreign Branch	—

How Many Scheduled Banks Are There in Bangladesh in 2026?

The best headline count is about 62 scheduled banks, but the active list has changed because Sammilito Islami Bank PLC was formed through the merger of five Shariah-based banks and began operations after Bangladesh Bank approval. Always re-check the latest Scheduled Banks Statistics released by Bangladesh Bank for the authoritative roster.
This article was last updated in July 2026 to reflect the Sammilito Islami Bank merger and recent Bangladesh Bank updates.

Scheduled Banks in Bangladesh & their Categories

Bangladesh Bank groups scheduled banks into clear buckets. Private Commercial Banks (PCBs) appear in two operating models: Conventional and Islami (Shariah-based).

State-Owned Commercial Banks(SOCBs)

Government-owned universal banks serving retail, SME, and corporate customers across the country.
Examples: Sonali, Janata, Agrani, Rupali, BASIC, Bangladesh Development Bank.

Specialized Banks(SDBs)

Government-owned banks with focused mandates (e.g., agriculture, regional development, or expatriate welfare).
Examples: Bangladesh Krishi Bank, Rajshahi Krishi Unnayan Bank, Probashi Kallyan Bank.

Private Commercial Banks— Conventional

Privately owned, interest-based banks serving retail, SME, and large corporates with nationwide digital/branch coverage.
Examples: BRAC, City, Eastern, Dutch-Bangla, Bank Asia, EBL, MTB, Prime, UCB, Pubali, IFIC, Mercantile, NCC, Mutual Trust, One Bank, Southeast, Dhaka Bank, AB, Premier, Jamuna, NRB, NRBC, Midland, Modhumoti, Meghna, Community Bank Bangladesh, Citizens, Bengal Commercial, SBAC, Shimanto, Bangladesh Commerce.

Private Commercial Banks — Islami (Shariah-based)

Privately owned banks operating on profit-and-loss sharing principles under Shariah governance, with Shariah boards and Islamic product sets.
Examples: Islami Bank Bangladesh PLC, Al-Arafah Islami Bank PLC, Shahjalal Islami Bank PLC, ICB Islamic Bank PLC, Standard Bank PLC, and Sammilito Islami Bank PLC. EXIM Bank PLC, First Security Islami Bank PLC, Global Islami Bank PLC, Social Islami Bank PLC, and Union Bank PLC were merged into Sammilito Islami Bank PLC under the 2025–26 Islamic bank resolution process.

Foreign Commercial Banks (Branches)

Branches of overseas banks operating in Bangladesh under Bangladesh Bank regulation.
Examples: Standard Chartered, HSBC, Citibank N.A., Commercial Bank of Ceylon, State Bank of India, Woori Bank, Bank Alfalah, Habib Bank, National Bank of Pakistan.

Category counts (approx.): SOCBs: 6 • SDBs: 3 • PCBs total: ~43 (Conventional ~33; Islami ~10) • Foreign branches: 9
Counts can move—always verify with Bangladesh Bank.

Cross-check with Bangladesh Bank’s latest “Scheduled Banks Statistics” and, for operational names, the e-GP Member Scheduled Banks directory. If very recent mergers/renames occur, reflect them in “Notes.”

Scheduled vs Non-Scheduled Banks (Quick Comparison)

Core difference: Scheduled banks are formally listed on Bangladesh Bank’s schedule and hold full commercial banking permissions. Non-scheduled banks are not on the schedule and operate within a narrower, limited scope. To know more about this comparison visit Scheduled banks vs non-scheduled banks in Bangladesh.

Aspect	Scheduled Banks	Non-Scheduled Banks
Legal basis	On BB’s official schedule (Order 1972) + licensed under Bank Company Act, 1991	Not on the schedule; separate/limited permissions
Scope	Full commercial banking (deposits, lending, payments, etc.)	Limited activities; not universal banking
Examples	SOCBs, SDBs, PCBs (Conventional/Islami), foreign branches	Certain specialized financial institutions (not on the schedule)

Recent Changes & Mergers to Watch (2026)

Islamic conversions: Some conventional PCBs have shifted to full Shariah operations (e.g., Standard Bank’s conversion earlier), affecting category counts.
Merger discussions: Bangladesh Bank approved the license for Sammilito Islami Bank PLC in November 2025. The bank was formed through the merger of EXIM Bank PLC, First Security Islami Bank PLC, Global Islami Bank PLC, Social Islami Bank PLC, and Union Bank PLC, and later began operations as a scheduled bank.
Operational renames: Bank names and categories can change after mergers, conversions, or Bangladesh Bank restructuring decisions, so always verify the latest official name before citing a scheduled bank.
Policy guidance: Bangladesh Bank circulars and the quarterly Scheduled Banks Statistics remain the primary reference for counts and categories.
Editorial note: Media reports may change; always reconfirm with official publications.

Always re-verify in Bangladesh Bank circulars and the latest statistics before citing totals.

Conclusion

Definition & legal basis: Scheduled banks are those on Bangladesh Bank’s schedule (Order 1972) and licensed under the Bank Company Act, 1991.
Categories & complete list: SOCBs, SDBs, Private Commercial (Conventional and Islami), and Foreign branches—organized above in a practical table.
Keep it current: Numbers and names can move due to mergers, conversions, or policy updates—recheck Bangladesh Bank’s latest statistics.

FAQs on Scheduled Banks in Bangladesh

What makes a bank “scheduled” in Bangladesh?

Inclusion on Bangladesh Bank’s official schedule under the Bangladesh Bank Order, 1972, plus licensing under the Bank Company Act, 1991.

How many scheduled banks are there right now?

About 62, based on the latest publicly reported update. However, the active list should be checked with the Bangladesh Bank because recent mergers, including Sammilito Islami Bank PLC, changed the scheduled bank landscape.

What are the main categories of scheduled banks?

SOCBs, Specialized Banks, Private Commercial Banks (Conventional), Private Commercial Banks (Islami), and Foreign Commercial Bank branches.

Are Islamic banks considered scheduled banks?

Yes. Several scheduled banks operate under Shariah governance, including Islami Bank Bangladesh PLC, Al-Arafah Islami Bank PLC, Shahjalal Islami Bank PLC, ICB Islamic Bank PLC, Standard Bank PLC, and the newly formed Sammilito Islami Bank PLC.

Where can I check the official list?

Bangladesh Bank’s Scheduled Banks Statistics is the authoritative list. Government directories (like the e-GP member banks page) help cross-check operational names.

What’s the difference between scheduled and non-scheduled banks?

Scheduled banks have full commercial permissions and central bank schedule status; non-scheduled banks do not and operate with limited scope.

Have there been recent mergers or conversions?

Yes. The biggest recent change is Sammilito Islami Bank PLC, formed through the merger of five Shariah-based banks: EXIM Bank PLC, First Security Islami Bank PLC, Global Islami Bank PLC, Social Islami Bank PLC, and Union Bank PLC.

Scheduled Banks in Bangladesh: Updated 2026 List