About Us

Standard Chartered Bank opened its first branch in Bangladesh in 1948, in Chattogram – the nation’s port city and a major trading hub. With the acquisition of Grindlays Bank in August of 2000, we inherited a presence in Bangladesh that dates all the way back to 1905. We also acquired American Express Bank’s commercial banking business in 2006. Today, we are the only multinational universal bank serving the nation. For as long as we have been around, we have been proud to be a partner in progress to Bangladesh.

• Standard Chartered is the only multinational universal Bank in Bangladesh, with over 118 years of uninterrupted presence in the nation.
• Our first branch opened in Chattogram in 1905. Today, we have 18 branches nationwide that cater to key economic centres. We are proud to say that our banking presence is the most extensive when compared to other foreign financial institutions operating in the market.
• As the longest established bank in the country, we have earned the distinction of being an innovator in the market with many firsts. As the first international bank to extend credit lines to independent Bangladesh; open the first external letter of credit (LC) in 1972; introduce the first ATM; launch the first debit card, credit card, international debit card and Shariah-compliant credit card; inaugurate the first 24-hour contact centre; launch the first state-of-the-art Online Banking Platform; and facilitate the first cross border acquisition. We also acted as a co-advisor to Bangladesh Bank to help the country achieve its first ever sovereign credit rating, when we worked with S&P.
• In recent months, Standard Chartered Bangladesh continued its pioneering streak with a number of ‘firsts’ for the country – including the transmission of the first end-to-end digital cross-border Letter of Credit; the completion of the first automated over-the-weekend loan disbursement; the launch of new and original digital learning tools; the implementation of bespoke industry-first solutions for clients; and various community engagement and sustainability initiatives focused on being here for good.
• Standard Chartered Saadiq is the only international Islamic banking proposition in Bangladesh for both retail and corporate clients.
• We have retained our AAA credit rating for the last 16 years.
• We have been recognised as the largest taxpayer in the Banking Sector by the Government multiple times over the years.

• “Best Retail Bank” at the Global Retail Banking Innovation Awards 2023.
• “Best Bank in Bangladesh” at the Euromoney Awards for Excellence 2023. Other major recognitions by Euromoney include wins for “Best International Bank” in Bangladesh in 2019, 2020, and 2021.
• “Best International Bank” in Bangladesh at the Asiamoney Best Bank Awards in 2017, 2018, 2019, 2020, 2021, 2022, and 2023.
• “Best Bank in Bangladesh” by FinanceAsia in 2009, 2010, 2011, 2012, 2013, 2014, 2016, 2017, 2018, 2019, 2020, 2021, and 2023.
• Lauded for “Biggest Environmental, Social, and Governance Impact” and “Most Progressive Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion” at the FinanceAsia Awards 2023.
• “Digital Bank of the Year,” “Best Digital Upgrade,” and “Best Mobile Upgrade” at the The Asset Triple A Digital Awards 2023.
• “Islamic Bank of the Year” at The Asset Triple A Islamic Finance Award in 2018, 2019, 2020, 2021, and 2023.
• “Best Retail Bank” in Bangladesh at The Asset Triple A Islamic Finance Award in 2018, 2019, 2020, 2021, and 2023.
• Named the “Country’s Best Trade and Cash Management Service Provider” at The Asset Triple A Treasurise Awards 2023. The Bank claimed another seven awards at this award ceremony, including “Best Service Provider, Cash Management” and “Best Service Provider, Trade Finance” in Bangladesh.
• “Best CSR Bank” and “Most Innovative Digital Bank” at the International Business Magazine Awards 2023.
• “Best Overall Bank for Cash Management” at the Global Finance Treasury and Cash Management Awards 2023.
• Named “Top Employer of CFA Charter Holders in Bangladesh” by the CFA Society Bangladesh.
• “Excellence in Consumer Cards – Credit” and “Excellence in Contactless Payments – Issuer” at the Visa Payments Excellence Awards 2023.

• “Bank of the Year” in Bangladesh by The Banker in 2010, 2012, 2013, 2014, 2015, and 2017; and “Best Bank in Bangladesh” by The Banker in 2019 and 2022.
• “Best Bank in Bangladesh” at The Asset Triple A Sustainable Capital Markets Country Awards in 2022.
• “Market Leader for Trade Finance” in Bangladesh per the 2022 Euromoney Trade Finance Survey and the 2022 Asiamoney Trade Finance Survey.
• “Best Trade Finance Provider” in Bangladesh at the Global Finance Trade Awards in 2020, 2021, and 2022.
• “Best Trade Finance Bank” in Bangladesh at the Global Brand Awards in 2022.
• “International Trade Finance Bank of the Year” in Bangladesh at the ABF Wholesale Banking Awards in 2022.
• “Best Service Provider – Cash Management, Bangladesh” at The Asset Triple A Treasury, Trade, Supply Chain and Risk Management Award in 2018, 2019, 2021, and 2022.
• “Best Service Provider Trade Finance, Supply Chain” at The Asset Triple A Treasury, Sustainable Supply Chain and Risk Management Awards in 2022.
• “Best Service Provider – Trade Finance, Bangladesh” at The Asset Triple A Treasury, Trade, Supply Chain and Risk Management Award in 2018 and 2021.
• “Best Renminbi Bank” at The Asset Triple A Treasury, Sustainable Supply Chain and Risk Management Awards in 2022.
• “Best Trade Finance Bank, Bangladesh” at the Corporate Treasurer Awards 2022.
• “Excellence in Mastercard Contactless, Issuing” and “Excellence in Mastercard Credit Business, International” at the Mastercard Excellence Awards 2022.
• “Best Foreign Bank” in Bangladesh at the FinanceAsia 20^th Anniversary Platinum Awards in 2016.
• “Best International Investment Bank” in Bangladesh by FinanceAsia in 2018, 2019, and 2020.
• “Best Deal in Bangladesh” by FinanceAsia in 2018, 2019, and 2020.
• “Best Trade Finance Provider” in Bangladesh at the Global Finance Trade Awards in 2020 and 2021.
• “Best Bank in Bangladesh” at The Asset Triple A Country Awards in 2020.
• “Best in Treasury and Working Capital – MNCs/LLCs, Bangladesh” and “Best in Treasury and Working Capital – SMEs, Bangladesh” at The Asset Triple A Treasury, Trade, Supply Chain and Risk Management Award in 2018 and 2019.

• “CSR Market Leader” in Bangladesh by Euromoney Market Leaders 2022.
• “Best CSR Bank” in Bangladesh by Global Brands Magazine in 2018, 2019, 2020, 2021, and 2022.
• “Best CSR Bank” in Bangladesh at the Business Tabloid Banking Awards in 2022.
• “Best CSR Bank” in Bangladesh by International Finance in 2017, 2019, and 2022.
• “Best CSR Bank” in Bangladesh by Global Brands Magazine in 2018, 2019, 2020, and 2021.
• “Best CSR COVID-19 Initiative” at the Global Brand Awards in 2020.
• “Best CSR Bank” in Bangladesh by International Finance in 2017, 2019, and 2022.
• “Outstanding CSR Performance” at the AmCham CSR Excellence Awards in 2021.
• “COVID-19 Response” at the A Better Tomorrow CSR Awards in 2021.
• “Best Bank in COVID-19 Initiatives” and “Best CSR Bank” at the BT Banking Awards in 2021.

• “Islamic Banking Window/Unit of the Year” by the Islamic Finance Forum for South Asia (IFFSA) in 2017, 2020, 2021, and 2022.
• “World’s Best Islamic Financial Institution” by Global Finance in 2019, 2020, and 2022.
• “Best Islamic Bank for Digital CX” at the Digital CX Awards in 2022.
• Islamic Banking Initiative of the Year in Bangladesh at the ABF Retail Banking Awards in 2022.
• World’s Best Islamic Financial Institution” by Global Finance in 2019, 2020, and 2022.
• “Best Islamic Digital Bank” in Bangladesh by Global Finance in 2017, 2018, and 2021.
• “Best Islamic Bank for Digital CX” at the Digital CX Awards in 2022.
• “Best Islamic Retail Bank” at the Digital Banker’s Global Retail Banking Innovation Awards in 2020 and 2021.

• “Digital Experience of the Year – Banking, Bangladesh” at the Asian Experience Awards 2022.
• “Best Mobile Banking App” at the World Economic Magazine Awards in 2022.
• “Best Digital Bank” by Asiamoney in 2017.
• “Best Digital Bank” by Global Brands Magazine in 2021.
• “Best Mobile Banking App” at the World Economic Magazine Awards in 2022.
• “Best Mobile Banking App” at the Global Economics Awards in 2021.
• “Best SME Mobile Banking App” at the Digital Banker’s Global Retail Banking Innovation Awards in 2021.

We believe it is possible to drive commerce and growth without leaving people behind, negatively impacting the planet, or creating divisions that diminish our sense of community. As we work together towards achieving our shared sustainability aspirations, our ambition is to empower the next generation to learn, earn and grow through community programmes centred on education, employability, and entrepreneurship.

Our community initiatives over the years have focused on economic empowerment of marginalised communities; bridging the gender gap; improving access to health, education, and financial literacy; supporting agricultural innovation; promoting sports, arts, and culture as drivers of positive social transformation; and combatting climate change by spearheading environmental interventions and initiatives.

In recent months, to drive forward community support measures, the Bank has:

• Transformed the lives of 7,000 char-based farmers with end-to-end agricultural support and capacity building tools;
• Facilitated job-readiness and economic reintegration for 2,100 vulnerable youths;
• Delivered winter essentials to 10,500 beneficiaries including vulnerable rural children and needy families in Dhaka slums;
• Donated meals and food packages to 12,000 beneficiaries from urban slums and Bangabazar worker communities;
• Planted 2,500 trees at the Lalmai-Mainamati heritage site to preserve the nation’s past for future generations;
• Donated oxygen plants to three community hospitals with combined capacity of 1,300 litre/min, serving up to 400 patients per day;
• Set up digital classrooms in 10 locations across Bangladesh;
• Supported 4,192 students via donation of school supplies;

A few other ongoing projects include:

• Standard Chartered Bangladesh has partnered with BRAC to help uplift haor-based farmers in Sunamganj and Habiganj and to mitigate the adverse impacts of climate change in these flood prone areas.
• Standard Chartered Bangladesh and BRAC have launched a joint initiative to help improve the livelihoods of 350 Sundarbans-based fisherman via the provision of key supplies such as boats and nets.
• Standard Chartered Bangladesh and the Center for Natural Resource Studies (CNRS) have come together to foster sustainable, equitable, and climate-resilient aquaculture processes. As part of a recently launched joint initiative, the two organisations will work together to boost the availability and accessibility of high-quality fish spawn for 2,000 aquaculture farmers residing along the southern coast of Bangladesh.
• Standard Chartered and Friendship are working together to transform the lives of 7,000 char-based farmers with end-to-end agricultural support. As part of the project, Standard Chartered will help to provide solar-powered irrigation systems and other modern agricultural technologies, training opportunities, technical support, and market-extension assistance to beneficiaries.
• In 2022, Standard Chartered Bangladesh and Friendship inaugurated a comprehensive environmental project for 750 residents of Ghughumari Char, a remote sedimentary island in Kurigram. Under the framework of this project, the previously off-grid island will be supported with a 54-kilowatt solar micro-grid, 60 tube wells, and a tree plantation initiative for 450 saplings.
• The Standard Chartered Agrow Award recognises the leaders and innovators that are moving our agriculture industry forward, with the goal of promoting the dissemination of technology and best practises at all levels of the industry. This year marked the eighth edition of Agrow Award and our fourth year partnering with Channel i – Bangladesh’s leading TV channel. Our partnership with Channel i allows us to reach a broader segment of our target audience – both in urban and rural settings. To date, there have been 66 award winners.
• Standard Chartered promotes the development of Bangladeshi youths through scholarship grants and institutional support. Our ‘Governor Scholarship’ fund, in partnership with the Dhaka University Economics Department Alumni Association (DUEDAA) is a need-based award that provides yearly scholarships to students of the Department of Economics and the Department of Development Studies, who have proven their academic mettle. To date, through this programme, the Bank has overseen the disbursement of 812 scholarships.

Some of our community interventions fall under our Futuremakers initiative. Futuremakers by Standard Chartered is our global initiative to tackle inequality. Futuremakers programmes are delivered by NGOs, not-for-profit and charity partners, including the Standard Chartered Foundation (SCF), around the world.

• In June of this year, Standard Chartered, in collaboration with UCEP, launched the “Giving Wings to Dreams for Youth Empowerment Programme.” The project will provide skills training, mid-level management, and entrepreneurship development opportunities to 2,000 beneficiaries through various training programmes.
• Standard Chartered Bangladesh has also partnered with Kumudini Welfare Trust of Bengal (BD) Limited to train and provide employment opportunities for the next generation of Bangladeshi nurses. As part of this initiative, the Bank will support 118 students in their journey to complete their formal education and attain their Bachelor of Science (B.Sc.) in Nursing. The graduates will be guaranteed employment at the Kumudini Hospital for a term of at least two years – enabling all beneficiaries to gain practical work experience and hone their skills.
• Standard Chartered Bangladesh also works with Population Services And Training Center (PSTC) to power Goal – an education programme launched by the Bank – which combines sports with life-skills training to provide  girls with the confidence, knowledge, and skills they need to be become economic leaders in their families and communities. This year, the Bank celebrated 10 years of Goal in Bangladesh. In the last decade, the programme has made a difference in the lives of 50,000 adolescent girls nationwide.