Banks and Financial Institutions occupy a very important place in our national economy. Among the many factors significantly contributing to the growth and development of Bangladesh ever since her independence in 1971, the contribution of our Banks and Financial Institutions has been no less significant. Our growing banking and financial sector has not only contributed to the promotion of trade, commerce and investment of a myriad nature but they were also very important in helping Bangladesh make substantial progress in integrating our national economy with international economic opportunities. Our banks and financial institutions are also playing a substantial role in implementing the country’s monetary policy under the direct guidance of the country’s central bank. The number of our banks and financial institutions has increased manifold over the last four decades as has their spatial coverage and product range. Understandably, there is a great interest in the public domain, academia, policy making level and at the level of customers both existing and potential, to know more about our banks, their strength, performance and all aspects of operational modalities.

The decision to bring out a banking almanac containing all the relevant data and information in one single compilation regularly was taken to meet the demand for data and information on them and make them readily accessible. The first of our almanac was brought out in 2016. It was very well received and we were greatly encouraged by many constructive suggestions shared with us from many to further enrich the presentation and content of the present version of the Almanac 2017. We went through a rigorous exercise of data and information collection to make the content of the almanac being brought out this year factual, representative and comprehensive enough to be useful to all the stakeholders of this specially prepared compendium of data and information. I am grateful to the Board od Editors comprising of leading professionals who have helped the preparatory work on the almanac this year and also to the supporting personnel who spared no effort to collect data and information from banks and financial institutions themselves directly or where it was not possible from published official material on them. We are grateful to the Bangladesh Bank for the valuable assistance and financial support without which bringing out this year’s almanac would have been impossible. We are particularly grateful to Mr. Fazle Kabir, Governor; Mr. S.K. Sur Chowdhury, former Deputy Governor and Mr. Manoj Kumar Biswas, General Manager of Sustainable Finance Department and his colleagues in the Department for their unstinted support to our work on the Almanac 2017.

The importance of Banking Almanac was first mooted by Mr. Abdar Rahman of Shikkhabichitra. His idea was welcomed by the experts in the field some of whom agreed to be the member of the Board of Editors. We thank Mr. Abdar Rahman for his efforts. The experts and staff who worked with him deserve our appreciation. We thank the commercial banks and financial institutions who have provided data/ information. We also thank the institutions which have provided financial assistant for publication of the Almanac 2017.

We trust and hope that the Banking Almanac 2017 will be useful and its contents would be helpful in shedding useful light on our banks and financial institutions enhancing transparency and access to information and data which will not always available elsewhere in a user-friendly one single comprehensive compilation.

Dr.Salehuddin Ahmed
Former Governor, Bangladesh Bank.
Professor, BRAC University.