Druk PNB Bank

What Druk PNB Bank does

Druk PNB Bank Ltd. is Bhutan's first Foreign Direct Investment bank, operating as a joint venture with Punjab National Bank of India holding a 51% majority stake, alongside 19% held by Bhutanese promoters and 30% floated to the Bhutanese public. Founded in 2009 with operations commencing around 2011, the bank is headquartered at Norzin Lam, Thimphu, and operates 9 branches across Bhutan (Thimphu, Phuentsholing, Wangdue, Gelephu, Paro, Trongsa, Samtse, Bumthang) supported by a 30-ATM network. Total capital stands at Nu. 1,680 million.

The bank delivers a traditional commercial banking product set built on a standard banking core system with digital delivery layers. Core offerings span deposit products (savings, current, term deposits), lending products (housing, vehicle, transport, education, personal, industrial, tourism, agriculture, and business loans), foreign exchange services across multiple currencies, and merchant services. Digital channels include the DrukPay mobile application (iOS and Android), an internet banking platform, SMS banking alerts, POS machine acquiring, and participation in the Bhutan Inter-Bank Real Time (BIRT) interbank transfer system. Security posture is formalized through ISO 27001:2022 certification. Customer segments span retail individuals, corporate and business entities (including contractors, tourism operators, and agricultural businesses), government programs, and shareholders, serviced through a hybrid segmentation approach combining physical branches with self-service digital channels.

Revenue is generated primarily through interest income on the lending book (housing, vehicle, personal, education, business, and other credit facilities) and fee/commission income from banking service charges, transaction fees, ATM fees, forex exchange fees, and card payment services. Deposit-taking functions as the funding base for lending operations. The bank's go-to-market is direct-to-consumer via traditional banking distribution and physical branches supplemented by digital self-service. As a regulated entity under Bhutan's Royal Monetary Authority (RMA), the bank operates within the AML/CFT Act 2018 framework and RMA AML/CFT Rules and Regulations 2022.

Name

Druk PNB Bank

Legal name

DRUK PNB BANK LIMITED

Website

https://drukpnbbank.bt

Company type

Public

Founded year

2009

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

101–250 employees

Short description

Druk PNB Bank is Bhutan's first Foreign Direct Investment bank, jointly owned with Punjab National Bank (India), offering retail and commercial banking services including deposits, loans, forex, and digital banking across nine branches and 30 ATMs in Bhutan.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Commercial Banking

NAICS

Commercial Banking (52211), Commercial Banking (522110)

SIC

National Commercial Banks (6021), State Commercial Banks (6022)

akta.pro primary industry

Mass-Market Consumer Deposit Banking (Checking/Savings) (FSABAAAA)

Keywords

• Retail banking services
• Commercial lending products
• Foreign exchange services
• Digital banking platform
• Merchant card acquiring

Headquarters

HQ city

Thimphu

HQ country

Bhutan

HQ region

Asia

Offices9 records

Markets served

GTM type

B2B and B2C

Offering type

Services

Cost components

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

Revenue model

1. Interest Income: Primary revenue from lending activities including housing loans, vehicle loans, personal loans, education loans, business loans, and other credit facilities. The bank offers various loan products with associated interest rates.
2. Fee and Commission Income: Banking service charges, transaction fees, ATM fees, forex exchange fees, and other service-related charges. Includes master card and debit card transaction fees.
3. Deposit Taking: Accepting deposits from customers including savings accounts, term deposits, and current accounts, utilizing these funds for lending and investment activities.
4. Foreign Exchange Services: Currency exchange services for customers including TT buying/selling and note exchange for multiple currencies (USD, GBP, EUR, JPY, CHF, HKD, CAD, AUD, SGD, DKK, NOK, SEK).

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels6 records

Marketing channels6 records

Core offering

Druk PNB Bank is a commercial bank in Bhutan that accepts deposits (savings, current, and term deposits) and extends a range of credit facilities including housing loans, vehicle loans, personal loans, education loans, business loans, industrial loans, tourism loans, and agriculture loans. The bank also provides foreign exchange services for multiple international currencies, Maestro Card acquiring for international visitors, POS terminal services for merchants, and interbank transfers via the BIRT system, distributed through nine branches, 30 ATMs, and digital banking channels including DrukPay mobile app, Internet Banking, and SMS Banking.

Product overview

Druk PNB Bank is a traditional banking institution in Bhutan operating as a joint venture with Punjab National Bank (51% ownership). The bank offers a comprehensive suite of banking products including deposit accounts, various loan products (housing, vehicle, education, personal, industrial, tourism, and agriculture loans), and term deposits. Digital banking services are provided through DrukPay mobile application, Internet Banking, and SMS Banking platforms. The bank also provides card payment services including Maestro Card acquiring for international visitors, POS machine services for merchants, and interbank transfer services through the Bhutan Inter-Bank Real Time (BIRT) system. Additional services include foreign exchange, ATM access, and loan deferment options. The bank operates through nine branches across Bhutan with 30 ATMs.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Brands

• DrukPay: Official mobile banking application of Druk PNB Bank, available on iOS and Android.

Products and services

• DrukPay Mobile Banking App Official mobile banking application enabling customers to access banking services on smartphones, including fund transfers, balance checks, and transaction alerts. Available to retail and business banking customers of Druk PNB Bank in Bhutan.
• Internet Banking Online banking platform allowing customers to manage accounts, transfer funds, pay bills, and access financial services through web browsers. For retail and corporate customers of Druk PNB Bank.
• SMS Banking and Alerts Banking service providing transaction alerts and account notifications via SMS, generating alerts for ATM, internet banking, and SMS Banking fund transfers. For retail and business banking customers.
• Maestro Card Acquiring Service Service enabling international debit/credit cards issued by any bank worldwide to be accepted at merchant establishments in Bhutan for visiting officials, tourists, and dignitaries. Targeted at merchants serving international visitors.
• Bhutan Inter-Bank Real Time (BIRT) Transfer Service Real-time interbank funds transfer system enabling transfers between different banks within Bhutan. Available to bank customers for interbank payments and receipts.
• POS Machine Merchant Services Point-of-sale terminal services for merchants to accept card payments from customers, supported by legal agreements and merchant onboarding forms. For retail and commercial merchants in Bhutan.
• Loan Products (Housing, Vehicle, Education, Personal, Industrial, Tourism, Agriculture) Comprehensive lending portfolio including Housing Loans, Vehicle Loans, Transport Loans, Education Loans, Personal Loans (for individuals) and Industrial Loans, Tourism Loans, Agriculture Loans (for businesses), plus contractor financing and working capital facilities. For retail individuals, SMEs, contractors, industries, tourism operators, and agricultural businesses in Bhutan.
• Term Deposits Fixed deposit products with varying tenures and tiered interest rates for savings and investment purposes. Targeted at retail and corporate depositors in Bhutan.
• Foreign Exchange Services Currency exchange services for retail and corporate customers including TT buying/selling and note exchange for multiple foreign currencies: USD, GBP, EUR, JPY, CHF, HKD, CAD, AUD, SGD, DKK, NOK, and SEK.
• Savings, Current, and Deposit Accounts Deposit account products accepting customer funds, including savings accounts, current accounts, and term deposits, with interest rates varying by account type and tenure. For individual and corporate customers in Bhutan.

Segments3 records

Ideal customer profiles3 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Feature3 records

Partnerships

One partnership is on record.

• BDBL (Bhutan Development Bank Limited)minorStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 February 2026Joint auction notification with BDBL for property auctions. Collaboration between the two financial institutions for asset disposal activities.

Scale indicators4 records

Recent moves6 records

Expansion highlights6 records

Direct peers

• Bank of Bhutan: Bhutan's largest commercial bank and the country's other major India-Bhutan banking joint venture, majority-owned by State Bank of India. It directly competes with Druk PNB across retail deposits, lending, and digital banking in the same Bhutanese market, with a larger branch network.
• Bhutan National Bank: One of Bhutan's oldest and largest commercial banks, offering similar retail and corporate banking products across multiple branches. It is a primary head-to-head competitor to Druk PNB within Bhutan on deposits, lending, and forex services.
• Tashi Bank: Bhutanese commercial bank providing retail and corporate banking services with multi-branch distribution. It competes directly with Druk PNB for retail deposits, SME lending, and digital banking customers within Bhutan.
• Nepal SBI Bank: Cross-border commercial banking joint venture between State Bank of India and Nepalese partners. Structurally analogous to Druk PNB as an India-led commercial bank operating in a small South Asian economy, with similar product mix, regulatory environment, and cross-border remittance dynamics.

Broad incumbents

• Punjab National Bank: 51% majority shareholder of Druk PNB and one of India's largest public sector commercial banks. While much larger and serving a different primary geography, PNB is directly comparable as a commercial banking franchise and sets the strategic, technological, and capital baseline for Druk PNB.
• State Bank of India: India's largest commercial bank and majority owner of Bank of Bhutan. While operating primarily in India, SBI is comparable as the parent of Druk PNB's largest domestic competitor and as a benchmark for cross-border Bhutan/India banking models.
• HDFC Bank: One of India's largest private-sector commercial banks with leading retail deposit franchise and digital banking capabilities. Comparable as a benchmark for digital banking and retail product strategy that could be emulated in Bhutan over time.
• ICICI Bank: Major Indian private-sector commercial bank with strong digital banking innovation track record. Relevant as a peer for benchmarking the digital product roadmap and retail technology stack that Druk PNB could pursue via its PNB partnership.

Regional players

• Bhutan Development Bank Limited (BDBL): Bhutan's primary development finance institution focused on agriculture, rural, and SME lending. BDBL is a current cooperation partner of Druk PNB (joint auctions) and is comparable as a Bhutanese lender, though it serves a different policy-oriented mandate rather than mass-market retail banking.
• NMB Bank (Nepal): Nepalese commercial bank of comparable scale, operating in a neighboring South Asian economy with similar regulatory and demographic characteristics. Useful as a regional scale and valuation comparable for a small-market commercial bank like Druk PNB.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat4 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights6 records

Customer concentration

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Compliance1 record

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles4 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 Druk PNB Bank