Financial inclusion in Bangladesh reached a significant milestone at the end of the second quarter of 2026, driven by the sustained expansion of agent banking services across the country. According to the latest quarterly report released by Bangladesh Bank for the April–June 2026 period, the total number of agent banking accounts rose to 27.22 million, marking a 2.77 per cent growth compared to the previous quarter.
The central bank’s data reveals that 30 commercial banks currently operate agent banking services through 15,424 appointed agents and 20,597 dedicated outlets nationwide. Quarter-on-quarter, the number of agents expanded by 1.58 per cent, while outlet networks grew by 1.27 per cent.
Rural communities remain the primary beneficiaries of this alternative delivery channel. Of the total 27,224,256 accounts, approximately 85 per cent—amounting to 23,027,755 accounts—belong to rural residents. Women now account for nearly half of all registered accounts, totaling 13,558,918. Significantly, account creation among female customers grew by 3.6 per cent during the quarter, outpacing the growth rate seen among male customers.
Deposit collection through agent outlets demonstrated steady momentum, reaching BDT 519,072.92 million by the end of June 2026. This reflects a 1.96 per cent increase over the previous quarter and a robust 13.82 per cent year-on-year growth.
Credit disbursement experienced even stronger growth. Total credit disbursed through agent networks stood at BDT 408,703.97 million at the end of June, representing an 8.26 per cent rise from the March quarter and a 40.89 per cent jump compared to the same period last year. Consequently, the loan-to-deposit ratio of the agent banking sector improved to 78.74 per cent in June, up from 74.16 per cent in March, indicating heightened lending activity through local outlets. Currently, 23 out of the 30 participating banks actively disburse loans through their agent networks.
Rural borrowers received BDT 262,263.99 million, or 64.17 per cent of the total loans. In contrast, female borrowers secured BDT 52,002.06 million, representing just 12.72 per cent of total lending. Central bank analysts noted that while rural access to credit has improved, a substantial gap remains regarding women’s access to formal credit channels.
Agent banking also reinforced its position as a vital channel for inward foreign remittances. Cumulative inward remittances distributed through agents reached BDT 2,149.04 million by June, up 1.76 per cent quarterly and 16.87 per cent annually. Rural households received 90.44 per cent of these funds, underscoring the system’s role in delivering financial support to families outside major urban centres.
First introduced by Bangladesh Bank in 2013 to bridge the gap for unbanked populations in geographically remote areas, agent banking has evolved into an essential component of the nation’s financial architecture. Beyond basic savings and transfers, these outlets facilitate utility bill payments, government social safety net transfers, and targeted credit schemes. To further promote inclusive growth, the central bank continues to encourage financial institutions to fund Cottage, Micro, Small, and Medium Enterprises (CMSMEs), women-led ventures, and marginal communities through dedicated refinance schemes. Female entrepreneurship within the agent banking framework is also gradually taking root, with 28 banks supporting 1,776 female agents operating 2,106 outlets—accounting for 10.22 per cent of all outlets—which collectively service 2.34 million accounts, including 1.94 million in rural areas.
