What BRAC Bank does

BRAC Bank PLC is a Bangladesh-based private commercial bank, founded in 2001 and headquartered in Dhaka, that operates as a financial inclusion-focused institution with SME banking as its core franchise. It is publicly listed on the Dhaka Stock Exchange (ticker: BRAC) and is a subsidiary of BRAC, the world's largest NGO, with 30.25% foreign shareholding. The bank maintains the largest market capitalization in Bangladesh's banking sector, having crossed USD 1 billion, and operates 191 branches, 87 sub-branches, 1,118 agent banking outlets, 446 SME unit offices, and 326 ATMs, serving more than 1 million (10 lakh) SME customers alongside retail, corporate, women-entrepreneur, premium, and expatriate segments.

Its product stack centers on SME and retail banking products including the Astha mobile banking app (with around 500,000 users), TARA for women entrepreneurs, Borenno premium SME banking, a freelancer account, debit and credit cards (Visa and Mastercard partnerships, including a Visa Cashback card launched in February 2026), remittance services through bKash, VeloxPays, and QuiqSend partnerships, and a Bancassurance offering licensed in January 2024. Underlying technology includes automated AML/CFT transaction monitoring and AI-powered credit scoring for MSME lending, with a dedicated Chief Information Officer appointed in March 2026 to formalize the technology and AI roadmap.

BRAC Bank's revenue model is the standard commercial bank model: net interest income from lending against a deposit base, supplemented by fees and commissions from cards, trade finance, remittances, and bancassurance distribution. As of mid-2025 it had total deposits of BDT 779,948 million (roughly USD 6.5 billion) and total loans and advances of BDT 644,830 million, generating profit after tax of BDT 6,202 million YTD June 2025 (about USD 52 million), with ROE of 15.71%, ROA of 1.26%, NPL of 3.37% with 108% provision coverage, and credit ratings of AAA (CRAB), B+ (S&P), and B2 (Moody's). It is the only Bangladeshi member of the Global Alliance for Banking on Values (GABV), and has been funded by development financiers including IFC, CDC Group, and DEG.

Name

BRAC Bank

Legal name

BRAC Bank PLC

Website

http://www.bracbank.com

Company type

Public

Founded year

2001

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

5,001–10,000 employees

Short description

BRAC Bank PLC is a Dhaka-based private commercial bank, listed on the Dhaka Stock Exchange, focused on SME, retail, and corporate banking in Bangladesh. It serves over 1 million SME customers through 191 branches, 1,118 agent outlets, and 446 SME unit offices, and holds the largest market capitalization among Bangladeshi banks.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Commercial Banking

NAICS

Commercial Banking (522110)

SIC

State Commercial Banks (6022)

akta.pro primary industry

General SME & Middle-Market Commercial Banking (FSABABAA)

akta.pro secondary industries

Mass-Market Consumer Deposit Banking (Checking/Savings) (FSABAAAA), Small Business Banking (Microbusiness/Sole Proprietor) (FSABAAAI), SME Business Lending (Term Loans, Lines of Credit, Overdrafts) (FSABABAB), SME Deposits & Business Accounts (Operating, Savings, CDs) (FSABABAC)

Keywords

• Retail banking services
• SME banking loans
• Corporate banking
• Mobile banking app
• International remittance

Headquarters

HQ city

Dhaka

HQ country

Bangladesh

HQ region

Asia

Offices1 record

Markets served

GTM type

B2B and B2C

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Operations, Infrastructure, Technology or R&D, Marketing or Sales, Supply Chain

Revenue model

1. Interest Income: Primary revenue from interest earned on loans and advances to SME, retail, and corporate customers. Close to half of the lending portfolio is dedicated to SMEs.
2. Non-Funded Income: Fee-based income from remittance services, card services, bancassurance, and other banking services. The bank aims to continuously increase non-funded income.
3. Deposit Taking: Low-cost deposit growth from retail and SME customers, with controlled growth in retail assets. Corporate assets funded through self-liability mobilization.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels6 records

Marketing channels5 records

Core offering

BRAC Bank is a private commercial bank in Bangladesh providing retail, SME, and corporate banking products including savings accounts, fixed deposits, loans (personal, home, SME, corporate), credit and debit cards, trade finance, treasury services, agent banking, mobile/digital banking via the Astha app, international remittance services, and bancassurance. Approximately half of the lending portfolio is dedicated to SMEs, with the bank pioneering small-ticket loans to bring grassroots entrepreneurs into the formal banking system. The bank distributes its services through 191 branches, 446 SME unit offices, 1,118 agent banking outlets, the Astha app, and ATM and partnership networks.

Product overview

BRAC Bank is a leading private commercial bank in Bangladesh operating a platform-plus-segments architecture with digital banking as a core differentiator. The bank's product portfolio centers on the ASTHA mobile banking app, complemented by specialized card products (Visa Cashback Credit Card, TakaPay Card, Planet Card, Smart Farmer's Card), SME banking through the TARA segment (including Borenno premium banking for SMEs), and retail/corporate banking services. Supporting infrastructure includes Agent Banking (1,118 outlets), Bangla QR and Merchant Gateway for merchants, and remittance services through international partnerships. The bank serves retail customers, SMEs, and corporate clients through 191 branches, 87 sub-branches, and 446 SME unit offices as of June 2025.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Brands

• TARA: Women's banking segment focused on women's financial inclusion, economic empowerment and technology participation
• Borenn0
• Astha
• TakaPay Card
• Smart Farmer's Card
• Planet Card
• Bangla QR
• Merchant Gateway
• Visa Cashback

Products and services

• Retail Banking Retail banking services including savings accounts, fixed deposits, home loans, credit cards, and digital banking services for individual customers including salaried persons, small savers, and home buyers.
• SME Banking Small and medium enterprise banking with dedicated SME unit offices (446 offices as of June 2025), SME loans including TARA uddokta SME loans, Shonchoy DPS term deposits, and specialized SME services aimed at financial inclusion.
• Corporate & Institutional Banking Corporate banking services for large businesses and institutional clients including corporate loans, trade finance, working capital facilities, syndications, and corporate treasury services.
• Astha Mobile Banking App Digital banking mobile application offering 24/7 banking services including fund transfers, account management, and seamless integration with mobile financial service providers like bKash. Reached 500,000 users by December 2023.
• TARA - Women Entrepreneurs Banking SME banking segment dedicated to women entrepreneurs, including the TARA uddokta SME Loan product, focused on financial inclusion and economic empowerment of women SME owners.
• Borenno Premium Banking Country's first premium banking segment for SME customers, launched in January 2023, offering premium banking services, exclusive benefits, and dedicated relationship management for high-value SME customers.
• Agent Banking Banking services delivered through 1,118 agent banking outlets as of June 2025, providing access to banking services in rural and underserved areas of Bangladesh, including unbanked populations.
• Bancassurance Bancassurance services licensed by Bangladesh Bank in January 2024, enabling distribution of insurance products through the bank's branch network to retail and SME customers.
• International Remittance Services International remittance services enabling expatriate Bangladeshis abroad (including in Australia) to send money home through partnerships with bKash, QuiqSend, and VeloxPays, with real-time API-integrated transfers and withdrawals across 1,118+ agent banking outlets.
• Visa Cashback Credit Card Credit card offering cashback and instalment facilities on everyday spending. Cardholders earn up to Tk 8,400 in annual cashback on retail, grocery, healthcare, and wallet-related transactions, with instalment facilities up to 36 months and optional Credit Shield Insurance.
• TakaPay Card Digital payment card launched in November 2023 for facilitating cashless transactions.
• Smart Farmer's Card Specialized card launched in June 2023 for the agricultural sector, supporting farmers with financial services.
• Planet Card Credit card product launched in October 2010 as part of the bank's digital banking offerings.
• Freelancer Account Country's first freelancer-specific bank account launched in November 2021 to serve the growing freelance economy in Bangladesh.
• Bangla QR & Merchant Gateway QR code-based payment service and merchant payment gateway enabling small merchants across Bangladesh to accept digital payments and process cashless transactions as part of the bank's ecosystem banking strategy.
• BRAC Bank Social Bond Social bond offering for investors seeking to support social impact investments, aligned with the bank's values-based banking philosophy (3P: People, Planet, Prosperity).
• TARA uddokta SME Loan SME loan product under the TARA banking segment designed to support women entrepreneurs and small business owners with simplified processes for accessing formal financing.

Quantifiable outcome

• 10 lakh (1 million) SME customers served as of December 2022
• +4 more outcomes

Segments6 records

Ideal customer profiles6 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

Yes

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Integration3 records

AI capability4 records

Feature4 records

Partnerships

Nine partnerships are on record, tiered core and minor.

• VeloxPays Pty LtdcoreTechnology or Integration · 4 October 2025BRAC Bank partnered with VeloxPays, an Australian remittance service provider regulated by AUSTRAC, to enable expatriate Bangladeshis in Australia to send money home through an automated, real-time platform. The partnership is part of BRAC Bank's broader strategy to expand its global remittance footprint and serve the Bangladeshi diaspora worldwide. The agreement was signed at the bank's Head Office in Dhaka.
• QuiqSendcoreTechnology or Integration · 20 April 2025BRAC Bank entered into a remittance partnership with Australian fintech company QuiqSend to offer app-based money transfer services for Bangladeshi expatriates in Australia. The agreement enables real-time remittance processing through seamless API integration. Recipients can withdraw funds from BRAC Bank's extensive network of 189 branches, 74 sub-branches, and 1,123 Agent Banking outlets across Bangladesh.
• National Pension AuthorityminorStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 February 2024Partnership with National Pension Authority for pension-related banking services, expanding the bank's service offerings.
• Bangladesh Bank (Bancassurance)minorStrategic or Co-development Partner · 28 January 2024Received Bancassurance License from Bangladesh Bank enabling the bank to offer insurance products alongside banking services.
• Future CarbonminorStrategic or Co-development Partner · 27 February 2022Partnership with Future Carbon to combat climate change, aligning with BRAC Bank's 3P philosophy (People, Planet, Prosperity) and sustainability commitments.
• bKashcoreTechnology or IntegrationAPI integration with bKash, Bangladesh's leading mobile financial service provider, to enable instant 24/7 fund transfers between bank accounts and mobile wallets. Partnership supports the bank's ecosystem banking strategy aligned with Bangladesh's shift toward a cashless society.
• Global Alliance for Banking on Values (GABV)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerBRAC Bank is the only Bangladeshi member of GABV, a network of 70 financial institutions across 45 countries in Asia, Africa, Australia, Latin America, North America, and Europe. Collectively, GABV members serve more than 60 million customers, manage USD 200 billion in assets, and employ over 80,000 people worldwide.
• VisacoreTechnology or IntegrationPartnership with Visa for credit card services including the Visa Cashback credit card launched in February 2026, offering cashback and instalment facilities on everyday spending.
• MastercardcoreTechnology or IntegrationPartnership with Mastercard for payment card services, including cards, POS, and e-commerce solutions.

Scale indicators13 records

Recent moves10 records

Expansion highlights6 records

Direct peers

• Dutch-Bangla Bank: Dutch-Bangla Bank is one of Bangladesh's leading private commercial banks with comparable retail and SME operations and a similarly extensive agent banking network. It is the closest direct competitor to BRAC Bank in the SME and digital banking space in Bangladesh.
• Eastern Bank Limited: Eastern Bank is a leading Bangladeshi private commercial bank offering similar retail, SME, and corporate banking products, including cards and digital services. It is widely regarded as a top-tier private bank competing head-to-head with BRAC Bank for premium and SME customers.
• City Bank (Bangladesh): City Bank is a private commercial bank in Bangladesh with retail, SME, and corporate banking operations, including NRB (non-resident Bangladeshi) remittance services. It competes directly with BRAC Bank across customer segments and product lines.
• Mutual Trust Bank: Mutual Trust Bank is a Bangladeshi private commercial bank offering SME, retail, and corporate banking with comparable product breadth. It is a direct competitor in the SME-focused banking segment where BRAC Bank leads.
• Bank Asia: Bank Asia is a private commercial bank in Bangladesh offering similar SME, retail, and corporate banking services. It operates in the same regulatory and competitive environment and competes for the same SME and retail customer base as BRAC Bank.
• Prime Bank (Bangladesh): Prime Bank is a Bangladeshi private commercial bank offering retail, SME, and corporate banking with comparable digital and card offerings. It competes in the same mid-tier private commercial banking space in Bangladesh.
• Southeast Bank Limited: Southeast Bank is a Bangladeshi private commercial bank providing comparable retail, SME, and corporate banking products. It is among the mid-tier private banks directly competing with BRAC Bank in Bangladesh.

Emerging players

• bKash: bKash is Bangladesh's leading mobile financial services platform and a key partner/competitor of BRAC Bank via API integration. While not a deposit-taking bank, it dominates person-to-person payments, agent banking, and small-ticket credit, directly competing for retail wallet share.

Broad incumbents

• Standard Chartered Bangladesh: Standard Chartered Bangladesh is the local franchise of a global bank offering corporate, retail, and SME banking. It is a broad incumbent competing primarily in corporate and premium retail, with less focus on grassroots SME than BRAC Bank.
• HSBC Bangladesh: HSBC Bangladesh is the local presence of a global bank focused on corporate, institutional, and premium retail banking. It serves as a broad incumbent in the Bangladeshi banking sector but does not specialize in mass-market SME banking like BRAC Bank.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat6 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• YouTubeyoutube.com/@bracbanklimited6593
• Facebookfacebook.com/164557134849
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/brac-bank-ltd
• Instagraminstagram.com/bracbankplc/?hl=en
• Xx.com/bank_brac

Compliance6 records

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles21 records

Subsidiaries1 record

Funding overview

Funding rounds4 records

Investors4 records

Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

M&A

Investments2 records

M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

Frequently asked questions about BRAC Bank