Community Bank Bangladesh has emerged as a better performer amid various challenges in the country鈥檚 banking sector, which is currently grappling with rising loan defaults, liquidity stress, and governance concerns.
At a time when many banks are struggling to retain public confidence, Community Bank has posted the highest deposit growth among new-generation banks and maintained one of the healthiest financial profiles in the industry.
According to Bangladesh Bank data, the bank鈥檚 total deposits grew by 9.9 per cent in just five months 鈥� from Tk 6,274 crore in December 2024 to Tk聽6,894 crore in May 2025.
This increase of Tk 620 crore reflects growing depositor trust in the bank鈥檚 prudent operations and focused strategy.
Moreover, the performance was achieved despite the bank is operating with a modest physical footprint of just 23 branches and sub-branches nationwide.
Since launching operations in 2019, Community Bank has adopted a strategy centered on efficiency and financial discipline rather than rapid expansion.
By May 2025, the bank had disbursed Tk 5,070 crore in loans while maintaining an advance-deposit ratio of 73.55 per cent, comfortably below the regulatory ceiling of 87 per cent.
Its non-performing loan (NPL) ratio stood at 4.85 per cent, or Tk 246 crore, one of the lowest among banks in the country.
Kimiwa Saddat, managing director and CEO (current charge) of Community Bank, told 抖阴精品, 鈥榃e mobilised over Tk 1,100 crore in deposits in the first half of 2025, with nearly Tk 800 crore coming in just the last six weeks.鈥�
He attributed this achievement to targeted campaigns and a deliberate focus on attracting zero to low-cost deposits through non-funded businesses such as payroll banking, collection accounts, letters of credit, and bank guarantees.
While Community Bank has clearly outperformed its peers, a few other new-generation banks also recorded moderate deposit growth during the same period.
Shimanto Bank and Midland Bank saw increases of Tk 128 crore and Tk 191 crore, respectively.
NRB Commercial Bank鈥檚 deposits rose from Tk 17,984 crore in December 2024 to Tk 18,550 crore in May, while NRB Bank reported a rise from Tk 7,592 crore to Tk 7,823 crore.
However, both NRB Commercial and NRB Bank remain under the scrutiny of Bangladesh Bank due to allegations of loan irregularities and mismanagement.
The broader group of fourth-generation banks, licensed after 2013, has displayed a mixed performance.
While some, like Community Bank, have gained traction by leveraging digital innovation and streamlined customer service, others are mired in high NPLs and ongoing liquidity issues.
Analysts suggest that boardroom instability, frequent management changes, and eroding public trust have hindered growth in these institutions.
The central bank approved nine new banks in 2013 despite strong opposition from financial experts, including Meghna Bank, Midland Bank, Modhumoti Bank, NRB Bank, NRB Commercial Bank, Global Islami Bank, South Bangla Agriculture and Commerce Bank, Padma Bank, and Union Bank.
Shimanto Bank, operated by the BGB Welfare Trust, received its license in 2016. Between 2018 and 2019, licenses were issued to Community Bank, Bengal Commercial Bank, and Citizens Bank.