Desk Report,
Innovative technology keeps Dutch-Bangla ahead
The use of technology in the financial sector and Dutch-Bangla Bank complement each other. Since its inception, the bank has made financial services more accessible by using various technological innovations. Through which, various banking facilities have reached the doorsteps of the common people of the country. The bank has spread ATM booths to remote areas to meet the demand for cash at all times. In addition, it has given priority to opening bank accounts for students. As a result, on the one hand, as the new generation of customers is being attracted to banking, people from remote areas are also coming under the ambit of modern banking services.
Innovative technology keeps Dutch-Bangla ahead
Dutch-Bangla Bank has proven that innovative technology and financial inclusion can go hand in hand, and this combined path has helped the bank succeed. The bank opened a new horizon by launching the country’s first mobile financial service ‘Rocket’. It has not only simplified cash transactions; rather, it has introduced millions of people to the digital financial system. The bank is also well known for its scholarship, which is a shining example of their social responsibility. As a result of these initiatives, Dutch-Bangla Bank has been included in the recently published list of sustainable banks by Bangladesh Bank. Among domestic banks, Dutch-Bangla Bank has invested the most in the technology sector. The goal of this investment was not to achieve immediate profits; rather, to create the foundation of a sustainable banking system. This long-term plan has contributed immensely to the success of the bank. Not only technological investments, the bank is also making relentless efforts to maintain the best standards of good governance and service. By emphasizing sustainable financing, the bank is also reaching out to remote areas through technology, sub-branches and agents, which has further expanded the scope of financial inclusion. As a result of these combined initiatives, the bank has further strengthened its position in the list of sustainable banks by Bangladesh Bank.
Dutch-Bangla Bank, which started its journey as a domestic-foreign joint venture in 1996, has already set several milestones in the banking sector of Bangladesh. In 2003, they became the first bank in the country to launch online banking services. Then, the ATM booths were spread to remote areas of the country, making banking services accessible to the common man. The mobile financial service launched in 2011, now known as ‘Rocket’, completely changed the course of financial transactions in the country. After the success of Rocket, the bank also showed significant success in agent banking services, which made banking transactions easier and more convenient.
Currently, Dutch-Bangla Bank has the largest ATM network in the country. The bank has 8,586 ATMs and CRM booths across the country. This vast network provides customers with the facility to withdraw money at any time. In addition, customers can easily deposit, withdraw and send money through CRM machines. By introducing internet banking, debit and credit card services and various digital transaction systems, Dutch-Bangla Bank has transformed itself into a modern and digital bank.
Dutch-Bangla Bank’s loan portfolio is quite diverse, which meets the needs of all customers, from corporate customers to small and medium enterprises (SMEs) and individual customers. Of the bank’s total loans, 19 percent were invested in retail loans and 14 percent in the SME sector, while the rest was corporate loans. At the end of 2024, the bank’s total loans were Tk 42,869 crore and deposits were Tk 52,187 crore.
Bank officials said that Dutch-Bangla Bank has always given priority to customer service. The bank has 243 branches and 307 sub-branches across the country, which provide their services to different parts of the country. Currently, the bank’s total customer base is 57.7 million, of which 23.6 million are women. Last year, the bank made a net profit of Tk 473 crore and spent more than Tk 360 million in the social responsibility sector, which is a reflection of the bank’s commitment to society.
Overall, the success of Dutch-Bangla Bank lies in their inseparable bond with technology and far-reaching strategic plans, said a concerned official of the bank.
