Trusted, innovative and inclusive: How ‘Astha’ App takes digital banking spotlight in Bangladesh

Over the last few years, I have seen a quiet but powerful shift take place in the way people manage their finances in Bangladesh. It did not happen overnight, nor through a single innovation. Instead, it came through thousands of everyday moments—when a customer paid a bill from home for the first time, transferred money without standing in a queue, or checked their account late at night for peace of mind. These small experiences have collectively changed how we think about banking. Today, digital banking is no longer viewed as an additional convenience; it has become the primary choice for millions of Bangladeshis who expect simplicity, speed, and reliability as standard.

BRAC Bank's Astha has grown into a trusted partner for customers across the country. With more than 12 lakh users and over Tk20,000 crore in monthly transactions, the platform has become synonymous with dependable digital banking. For us, these figures are not just metrics—they represent customer confidence, which is the true foundation of digital transformation.

What makes Astha unique is the way it brings together a wide range of services under one intuitive platform. From everyday transactions to long-term financial planning, every feature has been designed to make banking effortless and accessible. Transfers to any bank, Visa card transfers, BanglaQR payments, bKash integration, cardless ATM cash-out, embedded insurance, DPS and term deposit management, consumer loans, and more than 120 customer-focused features stand at the heart of this ecosystem. The strength of Astha lies in how seamlessly these features work together, giving customers a single, reliable hub for financial management.

The impact on lifestyle has been profound. Today, nearly 71% of BRAC Bank's total transactions take place through the Astha app. Tasks that once consumed hours—paying bills, applying for deposits, collecting bank statements for income tax, updating nominee details, redeeming reward points, or managing card settings—are now completed within minutes. Customers can also make insurance, education, and utility payments, set auto-pay instructions, and manage DPS, term deposits, or consumer loans directly through the app. This new level of convenience has made financial management more intuitive, allowing people to spend less time on routine banking and more on what truly matters in their lives.

This shift is also accelerating Bangladesh's journey toward a cash-light society. With Astha, digital payments now reach every level of the economy—from micro-merchants using BanglaQR to large corporate transactions. Annual digital transactions through the app grew from Tk 12,000 crore in 2021 to more than Tk 134,000 crore in 2024. This rapid adoption highlights a major behavioural change, one that reflects growing trust in formal, traceable, and efficient financial channels.

Infographic: TBS

Behind the scenes, we have invested heavily in building a robust digital infrastructure. Our goal is simple: customers should see Astha not just as an option, but as their preferred platform for everyday banking. A strong digital banking foundation ensures smooth performance, higher uptime, and an experience that feels natural even to first-time digital users.

The operational benefits have been equally transformative. With over 2 lakh daily active users, Astha reduces manual service time by an estimated 7.5–10 lakh minutes every day. This allows our frontline teams to focus on advisory support and complex customer needs rather than routine transactions. Automation in eKYC, digital loan applications, and account management has reduced turnaround times and improved efficiency, enabling BRAC Bank to serve more customers with greater speed and accuracy.

However, with the rise of digital adoption comes an increased responsibility to strengthen cybersecurity. Protecting our customers' data and transactions is at the core of how Astha operates. The platform uses multiple layers of security, including encrypted connections, device binding, dynamic authentication, and behavioural fraud detection. As the transaction volume grows, our systems continue to evolve, learning from patterns and identifying potential threats in real time. Alongside this, we consistently educate customers on safe digital practices and maintain round-the-clock monitoring to address any issue without delay. Trust is built over time, and the continued growth of Astha shows how strongly users believe in the platform's security and reliability.

Looking ahead, Astha is becoming more intelligent, personalised, and inclusive. We are strengthening our SME lending solutions through offerings such as SME e-Loan and exploring analytics-driven features that will offer customers deeper insights and smarter financial recommendations. As we integrate more third-party services, the app is steadily evolving into a comprehensive financial and lifestyle hub. Our ambition is clear: to deliver smart banking at scale while maintaining the stability and trust that customers expect.

To sustain this growth industry-wide, supportive regulation is vital. Digital signatures can eliminate the need for physical documents, rationalised transaction limits can drive mobile-first adoption, and clear guidelines around cross-border cloud solutions can help banks adopt global technologies securely. Strengthening national digital public infrastructure—such as interoperable digital identity and real-time payments—will further enable innovation and accelerate digital adoption.

As Bangladesh embraces a more digital future, I believe that platforms like Astha will remain at the centre of our financial evolution—empowering individuals, supporting businesses, and redefining what modern banking means for millions across the country.