Bank Asia sets new benchmarks in banking services: MD

Bank Asia has embraced innovation to stay aligned with the evolving needs of its customers and set new benchmarks in banking services, Sohail RK Hussain, managing director of the bank, has said.

He made the remark at an event held at the Pan Pacific Sonargaon hotel in Dhaka today (26 November) organised to celebrate the 25th anniversary of Bank Asia, a leading commercial bank in the country.

The event was attended by the bank's top management, including additional managing directors Shafiuzzaman and ANM Mahfuz; and deputy managing directors Mohammad Ziaul Hasan Molla, SM Iqbal Hossain, Alamgir Hossain, Muhammad Mostofa Haikal Hashmi, SM Anisuzzaman, Arekul Arefin and Mirza Azhar Ahmed, according to a press release.

Speaking at the "Meet the Press" event, which was organised as part of the celebrations, the Bank Asia managing director reflected on the bank's journey and shared its future plans.

For the past 25 years, Bank Asia has continuously opened new doors and unfolded new opportunities in the banking sector, he said.

Sohail further said, "From simplifying agriculture and SME loans to expediting government social safety allowance disbursement, pioneering the income sharing ratio model in Islamic banking, launching the Pioneer payment gateway, introducing agent banking and micro-merchant services, to implementing voice banking, the bank has embraced innovation to stay aligned with the evolving needs of its customers in the post-Covid era and set new benchmarks in banking services."

Bank Asia in the press release said since its inception, it has been at the forefront of introducing innovative banking services with its pioneering role in transforming the nation's economic landscape.

The bank said it launched Bangladesh's first agent banking service in 2014 with the objective of ensuring the right of banking services to people nationwide, regardless of profession and background. This initiative has been crucial in making financial services accessible to remote areas and underprivileged communities, said Bank Asia.

It said agent banking has also been instrumental in advancing financial inclusion and contributing significantly to achieving Bangladesh's Sustainable Development Goals.

Bank Asia said it is deeply committed to strengthening the country's banking sector and the economic development of the people.

Since its inception, the bank said, it has continued its multifaceted corporate social responsibility efforts. Its key initiatives include providing scholarships to underprivileged meritorious students in rural areas, free eye surgeries for blind children from disadvantaged families, and establishing the Bank Asia-Maa Amiran Hospital, said the bank.

Established on 27 November 1999, Bank Asia said it quickly became prominent among private commercial banks, earning its reputation for operational excellence and customer-focused services.

Starting with corporate banking, the bank said, it now boasts 135 branches, 15 Islamic windows, over 5,000 agent outlets, and supports more than 50,000 micro-merchants, ensuring seamless banking services across the country.