Community Bank Joins National Pension Scheme

Community Bank Bangladesh PLC has formally joined Bangladesh’s National Pension Programme, marking a significant step towards strengthening the country’s social security architecture and expanding financial inclusion. The partnership was established through the signing of a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with the National Pension Authority (NPA), reflecting the government’s broader efforts to make pension coverage more accessible, efficient and citizen-friendly.

The MoU was signed at a recent ceremony by Kimia Saddat, Acting Managing Director of Community Bank Bangladesh, and Md Mohiuddin Khan, Executive Chairman of the National Pension Authority. Under the agreement, Community Bank will utilise its nationwide network of branches and sub-branches to collect regular monthly contributions for the four core schemes operating under the Universal Pension framework. Officials expect this integration of banking infrastructure to substantially improve the operational reach and reliability of the pension system.

Launched as a flagship social protection initiative, the Universal Pension Scheme aims to move beyond the traditional focus on government employees and bring all segments of society under a structured retirement savings umbrella. The programme is designed to serve expatriate Bangladeshis, private-sector employees, self-employed individuals, and low-income or marginalised groups. By encouraging disciplined, long-term savings, the scheme seeks to ensure financial security in old age while gradually reducing future dependence on direct state support.

With Community Bank’s inclusion, registered pension contributors will be able to deposit their monthly instalments directly at bank counters. This is expected to be particularly beneficial for people living in rural and semi-urban areas, where access to digital financial services remains limited and financial literacy gaps persist. Bank officials have stated that the initiative aligns closely with Community Bank’s people-centric service philosophy and its commitment to national development priorities.

From the perspective of the National Pension Authority, partnerships with scheduled banks play a critical role in ensuring continuity of contribution collection, maintaining financial transparency, and enhancing public confidence in the pension framework. Leveraging established banking channels allows the authority to streamline processes, improve accountability, and reach participants who may otherwise remain outside formal financial systems.

Policy analysts and financial sector experts have described the collaboration as both timely and pragmatic. They argue that expanding the network of participating banks will be essential for scaling up the Universal Pension Scheme and ensuring its long-term sustainability. As more financial institutions come on board, the programme’s coverage is expected to widen further, helping to build a resilient, inclusive and widely trusted national pension structure.

Snapshot of Universal Pension Schemes

Through this agreement, Community Bank Bangladesh PLC is set to play a more active role in delivering a major national welfare initiative, while the National Pension Authority moves closer to its goal of establishing a robust, transparent and universally accepted pension system for Bangladesh.