Modhumoti Bank empowering villages through agent banking
With 80% of its Agent Banking customers being women, Modhumoti Bank is transforming rural lives and empowering communities through inclusive banking
When Modhumoti Bank launched Agent Banking in February 2016, our vision was clear: to bring secure, affordable, and convenient banking services to the unbanked and rural population of Bangladesh. We wanted to ensure that even those living in the most remote parts of the country could participate in the formal financial system, thereby promoting financial inclusion on a national scale.
Agent Banking has become a cornerstone of our financial inclusion strategy. It enables us to bridge the gap between banked and unbanked populations, extending essential services to rural and underserved areas. Through this model, we are creating opportunities for people who were previously excluded from formal banking to gain access to savings, credit, and other financial services.
Our primary focus has always been on rural, semi-urban, and underserved regions. We particularly aim to serve low-income households, farmers, small entrepreneurs, women, and government aid recipients—segments of society who need these services most. Over the years, our reach has expanded significantly. As of June 2025, we operate 643 agent outlets across the country, serving 398,795 accounts with deposits totalling over Tk161 crore. This steady growth reflects the increasing trust and confidence customers have in our services.
Through our agent outlets, customers primarily use services like cash deposits and withdrawals, account opening, fund transfers, utility bill payments, and government allowance disbursement. Loan disbursements and collections have also become increasingly popular, reflecting how Agent Banking supports local businesses and livelihoods.
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One of our proudest milestones is that 80% of our Agent Banking customers are women. This achievement underscores our commitment to empowering women and fostering financial independence. Additionally, our collaboration with UNDP has allowed us to extend services to climate-affected communities, combining financial inclusion with social impact. We've even introduced value-added services like telemedicine, health insurance, and digital banking to better serve our customers' needs.
Innovation has been a driving force behind our growth. Modhumoti Bank was among the first to pioneer account opening through biometric verification linked with the Election Commission database, ensuring both security and convenience. Looking ahead, we plan to launch digital loans to further simplify access to credit for rural customers.
We have also introduced several customised products for our Agent Banking clients, such as specialised savings accounts, government allowance disbursement facilities, digital payments, digital loans, and health and lifestyle services like telemedicine. These offerings are tailored to meet the unique needs of our diverse customer base.
Of course, expanding Agent Banking is not without challenges. Limited infrastructure in remote areas, managing agent funds, raising customer awareness, improving digital literacy, and transferring banking knowledge to agents are hurdles we continue to navigate. However, we address these issues through rigorous agent training, biometric security measures, regular monitoring, and customer education on safe banking practices.
Our short-term goals include expanding our agent outlet network, launching digital loans, and enhancing access to healthcare and government services through our banking platform. In the long term, we are committed to deepening financial inclusion through advanced technology, strategic partnerships, and a continuous focus on improving customer experience.
We also believe collaboration is key. By maintaining close engagement with regulators, participating in industry forums, ensuring compliance, and partnering with stakeholders like UNDP, we are working to build a secure, inclusive, and sustainable Agent Banking ecosystem.
At Modhumoti Bank, Agent Banking is more than just a service—it's a movement to empower communities, foster financial literacy, and create equal opportunities for all. Our journey so far is only the beginning, and we remain committed to reaching even more unbanked and underserved populations in the years to come.
