LAO DEVELOPMENT BANK

What LAO DEVELOPMENT BANK does

Lao Development Bank (LDB) is a Lao commercial bank founded in 2003 through the merger of Lao Mai Bank and Lane Xang Bank, restructured in September 2021 into a joint venture between Chaleun Sekong Energy Company Limited (70%) and the Lao Ministry of Finance (30%). It operates a nationwide distribution network of 1 headquarters, 26 branches, and 94 service units covering all 18 provinces of Laos, headquartered in Vientiane. The bank is led by Chairman Somkiat Phasy and Managing Director Fongsamout Douangchai.

LDB's product platform spans core banking (savings, current, and fixed deposit accounts in Kip, Dollar, Baht, Yuan), credit (installment loans, revolving credit, bank guarantees), card products (LDB UnionPay, VISA Infinite/Gold, EDC, Smart POS), trade finance (import/export L/C, documentary collection, SBLC), and specialized services including Easy Tax, Single Window tax payment, Mobile Van banking, and 14-currency FX. The digital layer centers on LDB TRUST (mobile banking, first launched in Laos in 2012) with biometric security and AI-powered digital account opening, LDB Biz (internet banking for legal entities), and QR TRUST PAY interoperability through the LAPNet network.

Revenue is generated through interest income from loan and deposit books (installment loans, revolving credit, savings, fixed deposits), transaction fees on domestic and international transfers (SWIFT, Western Union, E-Border China corridor), trade finance fees, FX spreads across 14 currencies, and card/POS acquiring income. Cross-border remittances, particularly the new Thailand-to-Laos easy2send service via 2C2P (June 2026), plus financing for agricultural value chains (eight rice mills across six provinces) and merchant acquiring via QR TRUST PAY and Smart POS, indicate the strategic direction. Customer segments span retail, individual migrants, SMEs, corporate accounts, merchants, and large agricultural processors, with pricing reflecting freemium mobile access, transaction-based fees, and subscription-style relationship banking.

Name

LAO DEVELOPMENT BANK

Legal name

LAO DEVELOPMENT BANK CO LTD (LDB)

Website

https://ldblao.la

Company type

Private

Founded year

2003

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

11–50 employees

Short description

LDB is a Lao commercial bank operating 26 branches and 94 service units across all 18 provinces of Laos, offering deposits, loans, trade finance, UnionPay/VISA cards, and digital banking via the LDB TRUST mobile app (first mobile bank in Laos, 2012), serving retail, corporate, migrant, and agricultural customers.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Retail and Commercial Banking

NAICS

Depository Credit Intermediation (5221)

SIC

State Commercial Banks (6022)

akta.pro primary industry

Agricultural & Rural Development Banks (FSABAKAE)

akta.pro secondary industry

National Development Banks & State Development Finance Institutions (DFIs) (BPADACAC)

Keywords

• Retail banking services
• Commercial banking services
• Mobile banking platform
• Cross-border remittance
• Trade finance services

Headquarters

HQ city

Vientiane

HQ country

Laos

HQ region

Asia

Offices10 records

Markets served

GTM type

B2B and B2C

Offering type

Services

Cost components

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

Revenue model

1. Interest Income from Loans: LDB earns interest income from various loan products including installment loans, revolving credit facilities, working capital loans, fixed capital investment loans, and bank guarantees. Interest rates are published and vary by loan type and currency.
2. Transaction and Service Fees: Fees charged for various banking services including domestic and international transfers (SWIFT, Western Union, E-Border), trade finance services (letters of credit, documentary collections), ATM card services, EDC card swipers, and SMS notifications
3. Trade Finance Services: Revenue from trade finance products including letter of credit services (import/export LC), documentary collections, standby letters of credit, and bank guarantees for projects
4. Card Products: Income from card products including LDB UNIONPAY Cards, VISA Credit Cards (Infinite and Gold tiers), EDC card swipers, and Smart POS devices with associated merchant services
5. Foreign Exchange Services: Revenue from buying and selling foreign currencies including USD, THB, GBP, CHF, JPY, AUD, CNY, VND, CAD, EUR, SGD, KRW, HKD, and IDR with competitive daily exchange rates
6. Deposit Interest Spread: Income from interest rate spreads on deposit products including savings accounts, current accounts, and fixed deposit accounts offering competitive rates in multiple currencies

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion3 records

Distribution channels7 records

Marketing channels7 records

Core offering

Lao Development Bank (LDB) is a full-service commercial bank in Lao PDR offering deposit accounts, consumer and corporate loans, trade finance (Letters of Credit, Documentary Collections, Bank Guarantees), payment cards (UnionPay, VISA), domestic and international money transfers (SWIFT, Western Union, E-Border Laos-China), foreign exchange, tax payment services, and digital banking through its LDB TRUST mobile app, LDB Biz internet banking platform, and Online Statement service. The bank operates 1 headquarters, 26 branches, and 94 service units across all provinces of Laos, serving both individual retail and business/corporate customers.

Product overview

Lao Development Bank (LDB) offers a comprehensive digital banking platform with proprietary mobile app (LDB TRUST), internet banking (LDB Biz), and Online Statement services. The product portfolio includes multiple deposit accounts (Saving, Current, Fixed), loan products (Installment, Revolving Credit, Bank Guarantee), card products (LDB UNIONPAY, VISA Credit, EDC Card Swiper, Smart POS), and payment services (Domestic/International Transfers via SWIFT, Western Union, E-Border for China-Laos). Trade finance services include Letter of Credit, Documentary Collection, and Standby LC. Additional services encompass tax payments (Easy Tax, Single Window), Mobile Van, and Foreign Exchange. Key mobile features within LDB TRUST include TRUST Bank (account management), TRUST Chat (transfers), TRUST Widget (QR payments), TRUST Love (savings), and TRUST Block (biometric security). The bank operates 1 headquarters, 26 branches, and 94 service units nationwide.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Brands

• LDB TRUST: Mobile banking application offering deposit accounts, fund transfers, bill payments, QR code payments, and savings management features.
• LDB Biz
• LDB Online Statement

Products and services

• LDB TRUST Mobile Banking Comprehensive mobile banking application enabling 24/7 financial transactions, fund transfers, QR code payments, bill payments, savings management, biometric security, and account management for individual retail customers.
• LDB Biz Internet Banking

Quantifiable outcome

• Customer adoption and satisfaction increased by more than 40% compared to previous year (2024)
• +3 more outcomes

Named customers3 records

Segments5 records

Ideal customer profiles5 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Integration8 records

AI capability2 records

Feature6 records

Partnerships

Seven partnerships are on record, tiered core, flagship and minor.

• 2C2P (Thailand) Co., Ltd.coreTechnology or Integration · 12 June 2026Partnership with 2C2P Thailand to connect cross-border remittance system from Thailand to Laos via easy2send function in LDB TRUST app. Authorized by Bank of the Lao PDR (BOL) and Bank of Thailand (BOT), enabling Lao workers in Thailand to send money instantly to families in Laos with low fees and real-time transfers. Allows top-ups via leading Thai banks (SCB, Kasikorn, Bangkok Bank, Krung Thai Bank, etc.) and 8,000+ cash pickup points at department stores nationwide.
• 8 Rice Mills in Songkhone DistrictcoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 27 February 2026LDB signed financing agreements with 8 leading rice mills in Songkhone District, Savannakhet Province to promote rice cultivation and purchase paddy rice from farmers. Mills cover 6 provinces (Savannakhet, Khammouane, Saravan, Champasak, Sekong, Attapeu), 21 districts, 107 villages with 510,000 hectares of cultivation area producing 198,000 tons paddy rice annually for export to Vietnam and Thailand.
• Western UnioncoreChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorInternational money transfer partnership providing fast, convenient, and reliable international money transfer and receipt services through Western Union network at all LDB branches and agent locations nationwide.
• Laos-China E-Border SystemcoreTechnology or IntegrationCross-border money transfer system between Laos and China facilitating Yuan transfers to any bank in the People's Republic of China or receiving funds from China. Operates through correspondent banks of Lao Development Bank with fast, convenient, and low transfer fees.
• Bank of the Lao PDR (BOL)flagshipStrategic or Co-development PartnerRegulatory partner authorizing cross-border remittance services, SWIFT operations, and overall banking operations in Laos. LDB operates under regulatory framework of Bank of the Lao PDR.
• Bank of Thailand (BOT)flagshipStrategic or Co-development PartnerRegulatory partner authorizing cross-border remittance services from Thailand to Laos. Combined authorization from BOL and BOT enables LDB's easy2send remittance service for Lao workers in Thailand.
• NTP (Fuel Station Chain)minorGTM or Marketing PartnerMarketing partnership offering LDB TRUST users 5% cashback on fuel purchases at NTP stations. Joint promotional event on March 19, 2026 offering queue priority and free drinks for LDB TRUST customers at NTP fuel stations.

Scale indicators13 records

Recent moves9 records

Expansion highlights6 records

Direct peers

• Banque pour le Commerce Exterieur Lao (BCEL): BCEL is the largest state-owned commercial bank in Lao PDR and LDB's primary domestic competitor. It offers comparable deposit, loan, trade finance, and digital banking services through a similarly extensive nationwide branch network, and is the natural benchmark for LDB's retail and corporate banking positioning in Laos.
• Banque Franco-Lao (BFL): Banque Franco-Lao is a Franco-Lao joint-venture commercial bank in Vientiane providing retail, corporate and trade finance services. Comparable to LDB as a foreign-JV commercial bank operating in the same Vientiane market with similar SME and trade-finance focus.
• Lao China Bank (LCB): Lao China Bank is a commercial bank in Lao PDR owned by Chinese strategic shareholders, operating across deposits, lending, trade finance and cross-border China-Laos transfers (very similar to LDB's E-Border corridor). It is the closest analogue to LDB's JV structure with a strategic foreign shareholder and Chinese remittance flow.
• ACLEDA Bank (Lao): ACLEDA Bank Lao is the Cambodian-headquartered regional bank's Lao subsidiary, focused on microfinance, SME and digital banking including mobile payments. Comparable to LDB's mobile-first, financial-inclusion-driven strategy and rural province coverage.
• ANZ Bank (Lao) Limited: ANZ's Lao subsidiary is an international wholesale and corporate bank with selected retail offerings. Comparable to LDB on cross-border trade finance, SWIFT operations, and multinational corporate banking in Laos.
• Joint Development Bank (JDB): JDB is one of Lao PDR's large state-owned commercial banks with a mandate similar to LDB's 'Development Bank' positioning. It competes head-to-head with LDB in corporate, retail, and government-related banking, and serves as a direct comparison for development-oriented banking in Laos.
• ST Bank Lao (formerly Maruhan Japan Bank Lao): ST Bank is a Japanese-affiliated commercial bank in Laos providing retail, SME, and trade finance products. It is comparable to LDB as a foreign-strategic-partner JV operating in the same Lao commercial-banking market.
• Indochina Bank (Lao): Indochina Bank (formerly Sakura Bank) is a foreign-owned JV commercial bank in Lao PDR offering deposits, lending, and FX services. It is directly comparable in product mix and target customer base to LDB's retail and SME banking franchise.

Broad incumbents

• Krung Thai Bank (Lao presence): Krung Thai is Thailand's incumbent state-owned commercial bank with correspondent and remittance relationships touching Lao PDR. Relevant as a Thai-side counterparty influencing LDB's easy2send / cross-border corridor economics.
• Bangkok Bank (Public Company) - Lao presence: Bangkok Bank is one of Thailand's largest commercial banks with regional presence in Lao PDR and is a competitor/partner for Lao trade flows and remittances. Relevant comparable for LDB's international trade finance and Thai baht FX operations.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses4 records

Competitive moat5 records

Key risks5 records

Key highlights6 records

Customer concentration

• Facebookfacebook.com/ldblao
• TikToktiktok.com/@ldblao.la
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/lao-development-bank-co-ltd

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles2 records

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

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

M&A

Investments

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

Frequently asked questions about LAO DEVELOPMENT BANK