Standard Chartered Bank opened its first branch in Bangladesh in 1948, in Chattogram – the nation’s port city and a major trading hub. With the acquisition of Grindlays Bank in August 2000, we inherited a presence in Bangladesh that dates all the way back to 1905. We also acquired American Express Bank’s commercial banking business in 2006. Today, we are the only multinational universal bank serving the nation. For as long as we have been around, we have been proud to be a partner in progress to Bangladesh.
At a Glance
- Standard Chartered is the only multinational universal Bank in Bangladesh, with over 117 years of uninterrupted presence in the nation.
- Our first branch opened in Chattogram in 1905. Today, we have 13 branches nationwide that cater to key economic centres. We are proud to say that our banking presence is the most extensive when compared to other foreign financial institutions operating in the market.
- As the longest established bank in the country, we have earned the distinction of being an innovator in the market with many firsts. As the first international bank to extend credit lines to independent Bangladesh; open the first external letter of credit (LC) in 1972; introduce the first ATM; launch the first debit card, credit card, international debit card and Shariah-compliant credit card; inaugurate the first 24-hour contact centre; launch the first state-of-the-art Online Banking Platform; and facilitate the first cross border acquisition. We also acted as a co-advisor to Bangladesh Bank to help the country achieve its first ever sovereign credit rating, when we worked with S&P.
- In 2021, we took major steps towards boosting sustainability through the introduction of the market’s first carbon neutral SMART Card; the issuing of the first green bond and the first green zero-coupon bond; and by pioneering the country’s first ever sustainable trade finance transaction. We also launched a vendor pre-pay platform; highlighted Bangladesh as a lucrative destination for investment and lending; digitised export LC advising, and generally worked to make ourselves future fit through innovation in the digital sphere.
- Standard Chartered Saadiq is the only international Islamic banking proposition in Bangladesh for both retail and corporate clients.
- We have retained our AAA credit rating for the last 15 years.
- We have been recognised as the largest taxpayer in the Banking Sector by the Government.
Overview
| COUNTRY CHIEF EXECUTIVE OFFICER | NASER EZAZ BIJOY |
|---|---|
| Local time | GMT +6 hours |
| Language | Bengali, English |
| Population | 164,689,383 (2020 est.) |
| Currency name | Taka (BDT) |
| No. of Branches | 13 |
| No. of ATM Booths | 87 |
| Established | 1905 (including ANZ Grindlays experience and presence; Standard Chartered Bank originally established its first branch in Chattogram in 1948) |