DA Afghanistan Bank
Da Afghanistan Bank is Afghanistan's central bank and monetary authority, established in 1939, responsible for monetary policy, currency issuance, banking supervision, and payment systems serving 12 licensed commercial banks, government institutions, and the Afghan public.
- Company typePrivate
- Founded1939
- HeadquartersKabul, Afghanistan
- Headcount5,001–10,000
- GTM typeB2B
- OfferingServices
What DA Afghanistan Bank does
Da Afghanistan Bank (DAB) is the central bank and monetary authority of Afghanistan, established in 1939 in Kabul and operating as a state-owned entity under the Afghan government. Its mandate includes formulating and implementing monetary policy, maintaining domestic price stability, issuing the Afghani currency, managing foreign exchange reserves under a managed floating exchange rate regime, and supervising the country's banking and non-banking financial institutions. DAB serves four primary constituencies: 12 licensed commercial banks (3 state-owned, 7 private, and 2 foreign branches), non-banking financial institutions requiring supervision, government ministries and semi-governmental entities using DAB as fiscal agent and government banker, and the general public accessing currency and banking services through the commercial bank network.
DAB's core technology infrastructure includes the Afghanistan Payments System (APS), the national e-Payment Switch operating since January 2021; FinTRACA, the Financial Intelligence Unit established in 2006 under the Anti-Money Laundering and Proceeds of Crime Law for transaction monitoring; SWIFT Alliance messaging infrastructure with migration to ISO 20022 standards; and currency production and management capabilities including physical banknote and coin issuance. The bank also operates seven zonal directorates (Central, Western, South-Western, Eastern, South-Eastern, North-Eastern, and Northern) with provincial branches and teller counters across Afghanistan, plus the AfPay Card as a consumer-facing electronic payment instrument. DAB is advancing a full transition to Islamic banking, offering Sharia-compliant products such as Murabaha Financing, Ijarah, Musharakah Mutanaqisah, and Letter of Credit/Guarantee instruments.
As a central bank, DAB does not operate commercial pricing models or generate revenue in the conventional sense. It is funded by sovereign capital and monetized operations rather than customer fees. Its governance structure consists of a seven-member Supreme Council (the highest decision-making body) and an Executive Board led by Governor Noor Ahmad Agha and First Deputy Governor Sediqullah Khalid. Recent strategic priorities include electronic payment expansion, Islamic banking transition, engagement with international standards bodies (IFSB, TKBB), and ongoing efforts to unfreeze foreign exchange reserves.
DA Afghanistan Bank firmographics
Firmographics- Name
- DA Afghanistan Bank
- Legal name
- Da Afghanistan Bank
- Website
- https://dab.gov.af
- Company type
- Private
- Founded year
- 1939
- Operating status
- Operating
- Headcount range
- 5,001–10,000 employees
- Short description
- Da Afghanistan Bank is Afghanistan's central bank and monetary authority, established in 1939, responsible for monetary policy, currency issuance, banking supervision, and payment systems serving 12 licensed commercial banks, government institutions, and the Afghan public.
- Ownership category
- akta.pro rank
DA Afghanistan Bank industry classification
Industry- Product category
- Central Banking
- NAICS
- Monetary Authorities-Central Bank (52111), Public Finance Activities (92113)
- SIC
- Functions Related To Depository Banking, Nec (6099), Finance Services (6199)
- akta.pro primary industry
- Treasury & Cash Management (BPAIAEAB)
- akta.pro secondary industries
- Government Accounting & Financial Reporting (BPAIAEAD), Treasury Operations Support (Cash Management, Bank Reconciliations, Payments Ops) (BPAAAGAH), Islamic Corporate Banking (FSABAGAC)
Keywords
Where DA Afghanistan Bank is headquartered
LocationHeadquarters
- HQ city
- Kabul
- HQ country
- Afghanistan
- HQ region
- Asia
Offices8 records
Markets served
DA Afghanistan Bank business model
Business model- GTM type
- B2B
- Offering type
- Services
- Cost components
- Personnel, Operations, Technology or R&D, Infrastructure, Others
Distribution channels3 records
Marketing channels5 records
DA Afghanistan Bank product offering
Product offeringCore offering
Da Afghanistan Bank is Afghanistan's central bank, responsible for formulating and implementing monetary policy, issuing and managing the Afghani currency, regulating and supervising commercial banks and non-banking financial institutions, managing foreign exchange reserves under a managed floating regime, and operating the national payment system (APS) and financial intelligence unit (FinTRACA). It also serves as banker and financial advisor to the government, combats money laundering and terrorism financing, and oversees the transition to a full Islamic banking system.
Product overview
Da Afghanistan Bank (DAB) operates as Afghanistan's central bank, offering a portfolio of core banking products and services. Its primary offerings include the Afghanistan Payments System (APS) as the National e-Payment Switch for electronic and mobile payments, FinTRACA as the Financial Intelligence Unit for anti-money laundering, and a comprehensive suite of Islamic Banking Products (Murabaha, Ijarah, Musharakah, Letters of Credit/Guarantee). The AfPay card provides digital payment access for consumers. The bank provides banking supervision, currency issuance, monetary policy implementation, and foreign exchange management services.
Differentiator
Problem solved
Functional benefit
Products and services
- Afghanistan Payments System (APS) National e-Payment Switch of Afghanistan that develops and modernizes the country's retail banking market by providing clearing and settlement services along with innovative electronic and mobile payment solutions. Used by banks, merchants, and consumers for retail payment transactions.
- FinTRACA (Financial Transactions and Reports Analysis Center of Afghanistan) Financial Intelligence Unit established under the Anti-Money Laundering and Proceeds of Crime Law to analyze financial transactions and reports for AML/CFT compliance. Used by banks, financial institutions, and law enforcement entities for transaction monitoring and reporting.
- Islamic Banking Products Framework Regulatory framework for Sharia-compliant banking products including Murabaha Financing (asset financing), Murabaha Tawarruq (cash/working capital financing), Letter of Guarantee (trade financing), Letter of Credit (trade financing), Ijarah (asset financing), Musharakah Mutanaqisah (asset financing), Export Letter of Credit Negotiation, and Current Account (Qard). Used by licensed banks operating under or transitioning to Islamic banking.
- AfPay Card Electronic payment card enabling cardholders to access their money anytime, anywhere through the national payment infrastructure built on APS. Used by consumers and merchants for retail electronic payments.
- Afghani Currency (Banknotes and Coins) Official national currency of Afghanistan issued in banknotes and coins, produced and managed by Da Afghanistan Bank. Used by citizens, businesses, and banks for all domestic transactions.
Quantifiable outcome
- Afghani appreciated by 10.77% against USD in 1404
- +1 more outcomes
Companies that use DA Afghanistan Bank
Customer profileNamed customers12 records
Segments4 records
Ideal customer profiles4 records
DA Afghanistan Bank technology and API
TechnologyTechnology focussed No
API detail
- Has API
- No
- API docs
- API detail
Core technology
AI maturity
App detail
Feature4 records
DA Afghanistan Bank partnerships and signals
Strategic signalPartnerships
Six partnerships are on record, tiered moderate and core.
- Afghanistan–America Chamber of Commerce (AACC)moderateDAB First Deputy Governor Sediqullah Khalid met with AACC Chairman Jeffrey Grieco to enhance banking relations, expand trade, investment opportunities, and strengthen the banking sector. Discussions included addressing traders' banking challenges, electronic banking, international money transfers, and improving financial services.
- Association of Electronic Money and Payment Institutions of AfghanistancoreDAB First Deputy Governor chaired meeting with Association officials focusing on expansion of electronic payments and digital revenue collection. Discussed electronic banking development and financial services modernization.
- Participation Banks (Turkey) - TKBBmoderateDAB First Deputy Governor Sediqullah Khalid met with TKBB Secretary General Ismail Vural during Turkey visit to discuss Islamic banking cooperation and development between Afghanistan and Turkey.
- Islamic Financial Services Board (IFSB)coreDAB Governor Noor Ahmad Agha participated in IFSB 23rd Annual Meeting in Rabat, Morocco alongside delegation. IFSB sets global Islamic finance standards and DAB engages in international Islamic banking development.
- Afghanistan Banks Association (ABA)coreDAB First Deputy Governor chairs regular meetings with ABA and heads of commercial banks to discuss banking sector issues, electronic banking expansion, and financial services development. CEO Najibullah Amiri represents ABA in these discussions.
- United Nations Development Programme (UNDP)moderateDAB First Deputy Governor Sediqullah Khalid held farewell meeting with UNDP Representative Stephen Rodriguez to discuss development cooperation and banking sector strengthening initiatives.
Scale indicators5 records
Recent moves10 records
Expansion highlights5 records
DA Afghanistan Bank competitors and assessment
Company assessmentDirect peers
- Central Bank of the Republic of Turkey (TCMB): TCMB is a direct partner of DAB through the Participation Banks Association of Turkey (TKBB). Turkey and Afghanistan collaborate on Islamic banking development per the 2025 partnership announcement, and TCMB operates in a similar emerging-market central banking context with active Islamic finance regulation.
- Central Bank of the Islamic Republic of Iran: Iran's central bank operates under similar geopolitical and sanctions-related pressures as DAB and manages a regional currency (Iranian Toman) explicitly referenced in DAB's FX tables. Both institutions navigate Islamic finance frameworks and share cross-border informal dollar-flow risks.
- State Bank of Pakistan: State Bank of Pakistan is the central bank of Pakistan, a neighboring country with similar Islamic banking regulatory focus. It manages monetary policy, currency issuance, and banking supervision for an economy adjacent to Afghanistan, with shared FX relationships with PKR and similar financial inclusion challenges.
Broad incumbents
- Reserve Bank of India: Reserve Bank of India is a major regional central bank whose currency (Indian Rupee) DAB explicitly tracks in its FX table. RBI oversees a much larger but structurally similar emerging-market banking system with significant cross-border economic ties to Afghanistan.
- European Central Bank: The ECB is a broad incumbent central bank whose currency (EUR) DAB manages in its FX table. While scale and mandate differ, the ECB's payment-system modernization (TARGET/TIPS) parallels DAB's APS national payment switch strategy for retail banking modernization.
- Bank of England: Bank of England is a broad incumbent central bank referenced for the GBP currency in DAB's FX table. While operating at vastly greater scale, it provides a benchmark for central bank governance, monetary policy committee structure, and ISO20022 SWIFT migration referenced in DAB's technology stack.
- Central Bank of the United Arab Emirates: The UAE Central Bank oversees an advanced Islamic banking market and is a regional financial hub. DAB manages the UAE Dirham in its FX table and engages with UAE financial institutions, making it a comparable regional central bank with overlapping Islamic finance and remittance corridor interests.
- Saudi Central Bank (SAMA): SAMA is a globally significant central bank with deep Islamic finance regulatory expertise and chairs IFSB work. DAB engages directly with IFSB alongside SAMA, and SAMA's Saudi Riyal is one of the currencies DAB manages in its FX table, making it a benchmark for Islamic banking regulatory frameworks.
Emerging players
- Bangko Sentral ng Pilipinas: The Philippine central bank is an emerging-market monetary authority modernizing retail payments and remittance corridors. Its scale and developmental trajectory are comparable to DAB's role in extending financial inclusion through APS and the AfPay card.
- Bank Indonesia: Bank Indonesia is an emerging-market central bank with substantial Islamic banking market share and active IFSB participation. It serves as a useful comparable for an emerging-market central bank working to expand Islamic finance and electronic payment infrastructure simultaneously.
Market position
Strengths5 records
Weaknesses5 records
Competitive moat4 records
Key risks1 record
Key highlights7 records
Customer concentration
DA Afghanistan Bank social profiles
Digital presenceDA Afghanistan Bank financial estimates
Financial estimateRevenue estimate
Valuation estimate
DA Afghanistan Bank leadership team
Management profileNumber of profiles
Profiles5 records
DA Afghanistan Bank subsidiaries and ownership
Company hierarchySubsidiaries3 records
DA Afghanistan Bank funding detail
Funding detailFunding overview
Funding rounds
Investors
Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →
DA Afghanistan Bank M&A and investment
M&A and investmentM&A
Investments
M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →
Frequently asked questions about DA Afghanistan Bank
What does DA Afghanistan Bank do?
Da Afghanistan Bank is Afghanistan's central bank, responsible for formulating and implementing monetary policy, issuing and managing the Afghani currency, regulating and supervising commercial banks and non-banking financial institutions, managing foreign exchange reserves under a managed floating regime, and operating the national payment system (APS) and financial intelligence unit (FinTRACA). It also serves as banker and financial advisor to the government, combats money laundering and terrorism financing, and oversees the transition to a full Islamic banking system.
Is DA Afghanistan Bank a public or private company?
DA Afghanistan Bank is a private company. It is classified as state government owned and is currently operating.
When was DA Afghanistan Bank founded?
DA Afghanistan Bank was founded in 1939. It employs 5,001 to 10,000 people.
Where is DA Afghanistan Bank based?
DA Afghanistan Bank is headquartered in Kabul, Afghanistan, in the Asia region.
Who are DA Afghanistan Bank's main competitors?
Direct peers on record are Central Bank of the Republic of Turkey (TCMB), Central Bank of the Islamic Republic of Iran and State Bank of Pakistan. Broad incumbents are Reserve Bank of India, European Central Bank, Bank of England, Central Bank of the United Arab Emirates and Saudi Central Bank (SAMA). Emerging players are Bangko Sentral ng Pilipinas and Bank Indonesia.
Does DA Afghanistan Bank have an API?
No public API is recorded for DA Afghanistan Bank.
What industry is DA Afghanistan Bank in?
DA Afghanistan Bank's product category is Central Banking. Its primary akta.pro industry code is BPAIAEAB, Treasury & Cash Management, with a secondary code of BPAIAEAD, Government Accounting & Financial Reporting. Its NAICS code is 52111 and its SIC code is 6099.