Recent statistics from Bangladesh Bank indicate that during the July–September 2025 quarter, loans and advances disbursed through bank sub-branches rose notably, surpassing the average growth rate of the overall banking sector. This reflects the increasing importance of sub-branches in expanding financial outreach.
According to the central bank’s data, total loans distributed via sub-branches increased from Tk 172.77 billion in April–June 2025 to Tk 186.45 billion in July–September 2025, representing a 7.9% growth. By contrast, the overall banking sector’s loan growth remained marginal at 0.4%. Despite this growth, sub-branch loans still account for only 1.1% of total sectoral loans, highlighting that their contribution, while growing, remains a small fraction of overall lending.
Rural lending through sub-branches showed a slight decline in share, dropping from 34.8% to 30.0%, indicating slower loan expansion in rural areas compared with urban centres. Similarly, women’s participation in borrowing slightly decreased: loans disbursed to women fell from 15.2% to 14.8%, and women’s loan account share declined from 20.0% to 19.5%. Nevertheless, the total number of loan accounts rose from 205,904 to 221,037, marking a 7.3% increase.
On the deposit side, sub-branches outperformed the sector average. Total deposits collected through sub-branches rose from Tk 680.71 billion in April–June to Tk 720.56 billion in July–September 2025, a 5.9% increase, compared with the overall banking sector’s 1.7% growth. The share of deposits held in sub-branches in total banking deposits increased slightly from 3.4% to 3.5%.
Rural deposit contributions decreased from 33.7% to 31.8%, reflecting continued urban concentration, while women’s deposit share grew from 26.3% to 27.0%. The total number of deposit accounts rose from 6.78 million to 7.21 million, with women maintaining a stable 36.8% share of accounts.
Sub-Branch Distribution by District and Bank (September 2025)
| District / Bank | Sub-Branches |
|---|---|
| Dhaka | 989 |
| Chattogram | 449 |
| Comilla | 210 |
| Narayanganj | 169 |
| Gazipur | 166 |
| IFIC Bank PLC | 1,225 |
| NRB Commercial Bank PLC | 693 |
| Dutch-Bangla Bank PLC | 316 |
| Islami Bank Bangladesh PLC | 271 |
| Pubali Bank PLC | 252 |
The highest concentration of sub-branches is observed in Dhaka, Chattogram, and Comilla. By bank, IFIC Bank PLC leads with 1,225 sub-branches, followed by NRB Commercial Bank PLC with 693, reflecting the strategic importance of sub-branch expansion among major banks.
In summary, sub-branches continue to achieve higher-than-average growth in both loans and deposits, but further efforts are needed to enhance rural lending and expand women’s financial inclusion.