Regulatory Mandate & Functional Scope
Non-Bank Financial Institutions (NBFIs), frequently designated as Finance Companies, are chartered under the Finance Company Act 2023 and regulated by the Department of Financial Institutions and Markets (DFIM) of Bangladesh Bank.
While scheduled commercial banks focus on clearing accounts and short-term working capital, NBFIs specialize in medium-to-long-term capital asset financing, industrial lease financing, corporate debt syndication, and private housing finance.
Institutional Differences: Scheduled Banks vs. NBFIs
| Regulatory Dimension | Scheduled Commercial Banks | Non-Bank Financial Institutions (NBFIs) |
|---|---|---|
| Enabling Statute | Bank Companies Act 1991 (Amended 2023) | Finance Company Act 2023 |
| Demand Deposits | Permitted (Savings, Current, Cheque accounts) | Prohibited (Cannot issue chequebooks or demand accounts) |
| Term Deposits | Short & Long term (3 months to 10 years) | Term deposits only (Minimum 3 months tenure) |
| Foreign Exchange | Full Authorized Dealer (AD) license | Cannot handle trade FX or remittance clearing |
| Core Expertise | Commercial trade, retail credit, payment systems | Industrial machinery lease, corporate finance, mortgages |
Deposit Safety & Due Diligence
NBFIs frequently offer competitive term deposit returns (typically 1.0% to 2.5% higher than commercial banks) to attract institutional and individual term capital. Depositors should verify institutional credit ratings (from CRISL, CRAB, or NCR), non-performing loan (NPL) ratios, and capital adequacy before placing long-term funds.
Find clearing routing numbers across 64 districts
Locate Bangladesh Bank clearing routing codes, Sadar branches, and SWIFT codes nationwide.