BRAC Bank takes banking closer to forests, chars and hills

BRAC Bank's agent banking network is transforming Bangladesh's financial landscape, bringing formal banking services to some of the country's most remote communities and breaking decades of urban-centric tradition.

From villages nestled beside the Sundarbans to chars carved by shifting rivers and cyclone-prone coastal belts, BRAC Bank's agent banking outlets now provide access to basic banking services previously out of reach. Small outlets run by trusted local agents handle deposits, withdrawals, and digital transactions—driving a new era of financial inclusion.

Bangladesh's challenging geography—marked by river erosion, dense forests, isolated islands, and steep hills—has long hindered conventional branch banking, leaving millions excluded from the formal financial system.

Agent banking bridges this gap by bringing services directly into communities, reducing travel time and cost, and shifting people away from informal, high-risk practices.

BRAC Bank operates 1,120 outlets in hard-to-reach areas—forests, chars, hills, and coastal regions—offering savings and current accounts, deposit schemes, remittances, business loans, government payments, and digital transactions. This expansion marks a decisive shift towards inclusive banking.

In the Sundarbans region, 17 outlets serve communities in Shyamnagar, Paikgacha, Dakop, Fakirhat, and Koyra. Char and coastal areas—including Char Fasson, Teknaf, Kutubdia, Hatia, Subarnachar, Mongla, and Kalapara—are now supported by 76 outlets. In the hills, 11 outlets reach Ramgarh, Panchhari, Manikchhari, Matiranga, Langadu, and Dighinala.

These outlets have spurred financial activity, boosted local trade, reduced cash dependency, and improved transparency. Over 60,000 people have opened accounts—many for the first time. Deposits now exceed Tk200 crore, and more than Tk65 crore has been disbursed in loans supporting small businesses and livelihoods.

Agent banking is catalysing wider social and economic change—raising women's participation, fostering entrepreneurship, increasing agricultural investment, and accelerating government safety-net payments. A savings culture is emerging in communities previously excluded from formal finance.

Local agents are pivotal, guiding customers, building trust, and supporting financial literacy within their communities.

Digital tools—biometric verification, real-time processing, integration with core banking systems—further strengthen agent banking. This digital backbone underpins Bangladesh's push for financial inclusion and reduced cash dependency.

As banking services extend to river islands, forests, hills, and coastal communities, the gap between banks and people is closing. Agent banking demonstrates that financial inclusion does not demand permanent branches; a small outlet led by a trusted local entrepreneur can turn exclusion into opportunity.

With BRAC Bank expanding its agent banking network, even Bangladesh's most remote communities are joining the formal financial ecosystem.