Agent banking outlets disbursed Tk 1.65 lakh crore remittances to rural areas in April–June this year, reflecting their growing role in bringing migrant workers’ earnings directly into the hands of families in remote parts of Bangladesh.
According to Bangladesh Bank’s latest Quarterly Report on Agent Banking (April–June 2025), rural households received about 90 per cent of the total Tk 1,83,888 crore remitted through these outlets during the quarter.
According to the report, remittance distribution through these outlets surged by 16 per cent to Tk 1,83,888 crore in June 2025, up from Tk 1,58,312 crore in June 2024.
The central bank attributed the rise to the quick and reliable delivery of remittances to beneficiaries’ doorsteps, making agent banking a preferred channel for many households.
The convenience, combined with the government’s 2.5 per cent cash incentive on inward remittances, has encouraged more non-resident Bangladeshis to use official banking channels instead of informal ones.
The remarkable flow of remittances through agent banking is a direct outcome of doorstep services reaching rural communities,’ the report observed.
However, just a handful of banks dominate this segment.
The report revealed that just five banks accounted for 97.81 per cent of inward remittances through agent banking as of June 2025.
Islami Bank Bangladesh PLC dominated the segment, disbursing Tk 1,01,283 crore, which represented 55.08 per cent of the total.
Beyond remittances, agent banking is also becoming an increasingly important channel for deposit mobilisation and credit delivery.
The report showed that loans disbursed through agent outlets surged by 55 per cent to Tk 2.9 lakh crore in April–June, compared with the same period in 2024.
Deposits collection rose to Tk 45,000 crore during the quarter from Tk 40,073 crore a year earlier.
The loan-to-deposit ratio in agent banking climbed to 63.61 per cent in April–June from 62 per cent in the previous quarter, reflecting banks’ increasing reliance on this channel for credit disbursement.
The BB report said the trend indicates positive growth in lending as more banks build infrastructure to expand loan services through agents.
Currently, 23 of the 30 banks licensed for agent banking are engaged in lending, with more banks expected to join in coming quarters.
By June 2025, the number of deposit accounts opened through agent banking reached 2.44 crore, with savings accounts making up the largest share.
It highlighted agent banking’s growing role in mobilising small deposits from rural and low-income populations.
Agent banking, introduced by Bangladesh Bank in 2013, is designed as a cost-effective alternative to conventional branch banking.
Customers can access real-time services such as deposits, withdrawals, remittance distribution, bill payments, and even small loans through local agents.
 As of June 30, 2025, 30 banks were offering agent banking services through 20,557 outlets operated by 15,373 agents nationwide.
