It asks remaining banks to introduce mobile banking
The number of users of mobile banking facilities in the country has hit 52.54 lakh, said a Bangladesh Bank official on Monday.
“In April, the number of subscribers has exceeded 50 lakh taking the total number to 52.54 lakh (as of June 10),” BB general manager AFM Asaduzzaman told UNB.
Responding to a question, Asaduzzaman said the central bank has given permission to 26 banks so far for providing mobile banking services. “Of them, 17 banks have started offering the facilities.”
He said over Tk 121 crore are transacted each day through using mobile banking facilities across the country.
The BB official also said the central bank is putting in its efforts to bring readymade garment industry workers under the mobile banking facilities.
According to the central bank data, a total of 1,51,56,796 transactions were there in April through mobile banking which was 1,36,78,631 in March.
The transaction accounted for Tk 3334 crore in March while Tk 3637 crore in April.
The central bank has asked the banks which are yet to introduce mobile banking, to introduce it immediately otherwise, the central bank will scrap the permission.
The banks which have already introduced the services are Trust Bank Limited, Eastern Bank Limited, Brac Bank Limited, Mercantile Bank Limited, AB Bank Limited, Dhaka Bank Limited, Dutch Bangla Bank Limited, Premier Bank Limited, Southeast Bank Limited, Prime Bank Limited, Bank Asia, UCBL, NCC Bank Limited, First Security Islami Bank Limited, Islami Bank Limited Commerce Bank Limited and Standard Bank Limited.
Sonali Bank, Jamuna Bank, One Bank, IFIC Bank, Al Arafah Islami Bank, Exim Bank, Janata Bank, Shahjalal Bank Limited and City Bank NA are yet to introduce the mobile banking service.
The central bank officials said Bangladesh can use mobile financial services not only to accelerate financial inclusion, but also to bring more than 85 percent unbanked population to the mainstream at a cost effective manner.
As 99 percent people of Bangladesh are already under the mobile phone network, almost all will have the access to the formal financial channel.
The central bank introduced mobile financial services in 2010 to bring huge unbanked people under banking services.
Source: UNB Connect
