Banque Pour Le Commerce Exterieur Lao (BCEL)

What Banque Pour Le Commerce Exterieur Lao (BCEL) does

Banque Pour Le Commerce Exterieur Lao Public (BCEL) is a state-owned commercial bank in the Lao People's Democratic Republic, publicly listed on the Lao Securities Exchange under the ticker BCEL, with the Government of Lao PDR (through the Ministry of Finance) as its controlling shareholder. BCEL operates the most extensive distribution network in the country, comprising 20+ branches, 98 service units, 12 currency exchange units, and over 400 ATMs, supplemented by digital channels including the BCEL One mobile banking application (700,000+ users, ~70% of mobile banking transactions) and BCEL i-Bank V.3 internet banking.

The bank offers a full retail and commercial banking suite: multi-currency deposits (LAK, USD, THB, CNY) with tiered interest rates, credit and loan products priced by rating and tenor, a card portfolio spanning UnionPay (chip cards with Tap & Go, 900,000+ users representing 85% of the national card market), VISA (Platinum, Corporate), and Mastercard (World, prepaid variants including customizable MyWay and Virtual), fund transfers including MoneyGram remittance, trade finance, and utilities bill payment. Core technology is anchored on the HBS (Hit Banking System) Core Banking platform, deployed in August 2021 in partnership with Hong Kong-based Hashing Systems Group as the first such system in Lao PDR.

BCEL generates revenue primarily through net interest income on loans and deposits, supplemented by card fees, commissions, electronic banking fees, and foreign exchange and trade finance. It serves four primary segments: retail/individual customers (the largest by volume), small and medium enterprises, corporate and business clients, and the government and public sector — the last of which is structurally important via GovCard payroll disbursements, tax and utility bill collection, intellectual property fee processing, and expressway toll cash handling. The bank holds ISO 9001:2015 certification (since 2017, audited by SGS Thailand) and received the ASEAN Business Award 2022.

Name

Banque Pour Le Commerce Exterieur Lao (BCEL)

Legal name

Banque Pour Le Commerce Exterieur Lao Public

Website

https://bcel.com.la

Company type

Public

Founded year

1975

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

1,001–5,000 employees

Short description

BCEL is a state-owned and publicly listed commercial bank in Lao PDR operating the country's largest banking network (20+ branches, 400+ ATMs, 700,000+ mobile users), offering deposits, loans, card products, trade finance, and government bill payment services.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Commercial Banking

SIC

National Commercial Banks (6021)

akta.pro primary industry

ACH & Batch Payments Clearing (FSABAJAH)

akta.pro secondary industry

BNPL Card / Virtual Card Programs (FSAKACAC)

Keywords

• Commercial banking services
• Retail deposit products
• Trade finance operations
• Digital mobile banking
• Payment card services

Headquarters

HQ city

Vientiane

HQ country

Laos

HQ region

Asia

Offices1 record

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 and Credit: BCEL generates primary revenue through interest income on loans and credit facilities extended to retail, SME, corporate, and government customers. Interest rates vary by credit rating (AAA to A) and loan term (short-term under 12 months, medium-term 12-60 months, long-term over 60 months).
2. Interest Income from Deposits: Interest earned on customer deposits across LAK, USD, THB, and CNY currencies, with deposit rates ranging from 1.60% (LAK demand deposit) to 6.90% (LAK 60-month fixed deposit).
3. Card Fees and Commissions: Annual fees, issuance fees, and interchange income from credit cards (VISA Platinum, World Mastercard), debit cards, and prepaid cards (My Way, Standard, Virtual). Fees include membership fees (e.g., World Mastercard primary card $75/year), ATM withdrawal fees, and top-up fees for prepaid cards.
4. Electronic Banking Services: Fees from fund transfers, utility bill payments (Bill Payment service), mobile banking, internet banking, and ATM transactions. Bill Payment covers electricity, water, telecom, road tolls, land taxes, and government fees.
5. Foreign Exchange and Trade Finance: Revenue from foreign exchange transactions and trade finance services including letters of credit, guarantees, and documentary collections.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels6 records

Marketing channels7 records

Core offering

BCEL is a state-owned commercial bank that provides retail and corporate banking services in Lao PDR, including deposit accounts, consumer and SME loans, credit/debit/prepaid cards, trade finance, foreign exchange, money transfers, utility bill payments, and digital banking through the BCEL One mobile app and BCEL i-Bank internet platform. The bank also serves as the primary government channel for bill collection, tax payments, and civil servant payroll disbursement.

Product overview

BCEL offers a comprehensive, multi-channel banking platform consisting of deposit accounts (savings and time deposits in LAK, USD, THB, and CNY), credit and loan products (home loans, SME loans), multiple card variants across UnionPay and Mastercard/VISA networks (including credit cards, prepaid cards, virtual prepaid cards, and government employee cards), electronic banking services via BCEL One mobile app and BCEL i-Bank V.3 internet platform, ATM network (BCONNex), fund transfers including MoneyGram remittance, trade finance services, utilities bill payment, and specialized products such as Smart VAT Card. The card portfolio includes BCEL VISA Platinum (Credit and Debit), BCEL VISA Corporate, BCEL World Mastercard, BCEL Prepaid Mastercard (My Way custom photo and Standard variants), BCEL Virtual Prepaid Mastercard, BCEL UnionPay ATM Chip Card, Smart VAT Card, and Government Employee Card. Digital channels include BCEL One (mobile banking with account management, QR payments, bill payments), BCEL i-Bank V.3 (internet banking), and OneCare 24/7 support within the app. The bank also operates a network of 20 branches, 94+ service units, and 15+ currency exchange units across Lao PDR.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Brands

• BCEL One: Mobile banking application for digital financial services
• BCEL i-Bank
• OnePay
• OneBank
• OneCare
• BCEL My Way
• BCEL World Mastercard

Products and services

• Deposits (Savings and Time Deposits) Deposit products including current accounts, savings accounts, and time deposits in LAK, USD, THB, and CNY, with varying interest rates based on currency and term length (demand to 60-month fixed deposits).
• Loans and Credit Products Credit and loan products including home loans, SME loans, CSM loans, and other credit facilities for personal and business purposes, priced by credit rating (AAA, AA, A) and term.
• BCEL VISA Corporate Card

Quantifiable outcome

• Over 700,000 BCEL One mobile banking users, dominating 70% of mobile banking transactions in Lao PDR
• +4 more outcomes

Named customers2 records

Segments4 records

Ideal customer profiles4 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Feature5 records

Partnerships

Eight partnerships are on record, tiered minor and core.

• Ministry of Industry and Commerce - Department of Intellectual PropertyminorStrategic or Co-development Partner · 20 December 2021Bill Payment service integration allowing payment of intellectual property fees, trade licenses, and related government service fees through BCEL's digital banking channels.
• Hashing Systems Group (HSG)coreTechnology or Integration · 6 August 2021Implementation partner for HBS Core Banking system deployment. HSG developed and implemented the first Core Banking system in Lao PDR (Go-Live August 2021), enabling BCEL's digital banking transformation. HSG committed to ongoing support for BCEL's modernization journey.
• UnionPay InternationalcoreTechnology or Integration · 26 March 2021Partnership for UnionPay ATM Chip Card issuance and processing. BCEL launched UnionPay ATM chip cards with contactless Tap & Go feature, first in Lao PDR, with UnionPay providing international payment network and security standards. BCEL has over 900,000 UnionPay card users representing 85% of the market.
• Mini BigC (Emart Mini BigC)coreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 28 January 2021MOU for QR Code payment service at mini BigC retail stores across Lao PDR. BCEL provides QR code payment infrastructure enabling customers to pay for goods and services at all 51 mini BigC branches nationwide, supporting over 100 transaction types.
• ICBC (Industrial and Commercial Bank of China)minorStrategic or Co-development Partner · 28 January 2021ICBC participated as a witness/observer in the Laos-China Expressway cash service MOU signing ceremony, indicating potential cooperation in cross-border financial services related to the China-Laos Railway corridor.
• Small and Medium Enterprise Service Center (SME Service Center)coreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 25 December 2020MOU for exchange and dissemination of information between BCEL and the SME Service Center under the Lao National Chamber of Commerce and Industry. BCEL publishes its SME loan products and conditions on the Center's website, providing SMEs with access to credit information and financing. Signed December 25, 2020, represented by Mr. Daovone Phachanthavong and Mr. Souphak Thinxayphone.
• Laos-China Expressway Joint Venture Company LimitedcoreTechnology or Integration · 27 November 2020Cash service provision at Vientiane-Vangvieng expressway toll stations. BCEL provides cash handling and toll payment collection services along the 109-km expressway connecting Vientiane to Vangvieng province.
• Bank of the Lao PDRcoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 27 November 2020Regulatory partnership and supervisor of BCEL's banking operations. Former General Managing Director Mr. Phoukhong Chanthachack was transferred to Bank of the Lao PDR as Head of the Banking Supervision Department. Current General Managing Director Mr. Khamphout Sitthilath previously served as Head of the Monetary Policy Department at the central bank.

Scale indicators9 records

Recent moves6 records

Expansion highlights5 records

Direct peers

• Vietcombank (Laos branch): Vietnamese state-owned commercial bank with Lao operations providing corporate, trade-finance and retail services; directly comparable state-owned trade bank competing for the same cross-border Vietnam-Laos corridor flows as BCEL.
• Lao-Viet Bank: Joint Lao-Vietnamese commercial bank operating in Lao PDR, offering retail deposits, SME lending and digital banking directly competitive with BCEL across the same customer segments and Lao geography.
• Joint Development Bank (JDB): Lao commercial bank providing retail, SME and corporate banking services including digital channels; competes directly with BCEL in the Vientiane-headquartered commercial banking segment.
• Agricultural Promotion Bank (APB): State-owned Lao bank focused on agricultural and rural lending; competes with BCEL for the same government-mandated deposit, payroll and bill-payment channels and shares comparable nationwide branch infrastructure.
• Phongsavanh Bank: Domestic Lao commercial bank offering deposits, loans and digital banking to retail and corporate customers; directly competes with BCEL for the same Lao deposit base and SME lending market.
• ICBC (Laos): Chinese state-owned commercial bank with a Laos presence and existing partnership with BCEL; competes for Chinese-invested corporate accounts, trade finance and CNY-denominated deposit/funding flows in Lao PDR.
• Sacombank (Lao): Vietnamese-owned bank operating in Lao PDR providing retail and corporate banking services including cards and remittance; competes with BCEL's UnionPay/VISA/Mastercard franchise for cross-border and Lao retail customers.

Broad incumbents

• Maybank (Laos): Large Malaysian regional bank with a Lao branch serving corporate, SME and affluent retail segments; competes with BCEL on corporate banking, FX and cross-border trade while offering a wider regional network.
• Krung Thai Bank: Thai state-owned commercial bank, the largest in Thailand and a regional incumbent; comparable state-owned trade-finance and retail banking profile and a potential cross-border competitor for Lao corporate and remittance flows linked to Thailand.
• Standard Chartered (Laos): Global wholesale and retail bank with a Laos franchise focused on corporate, trade finance and affluent retail; overlaps BCEL's trade-finance, FX and premium card businesses but serves a broader multinational client base.

Market position

Strengths4 records

Weaknesses4 records

Competitive moat5 records

Key risks5 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• YouTubeyoutube.com/channel/UChYtViKbPLrgwXetxse3xFw
• Facebookfacebook.com/BCEL.Bank
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/bcel

Compliance2 records

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles5 records

Subsidiaries1 record

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 Banque Pour Le Commerce Exterieur Lao (BCEL)