Deposits in basic accounts without additional features saw a 23.93 percent increase year-on-year, reaching Tk 9,010 crore by the end of the April-June quarter in 2026, as per data from Bangladesh Bank. The total count of such accounts in the June quarter was 3.66 crore, marking a 9.98 percent rise compared to the previous year.
These no-frill accounts are designed as cost-effective options with initial deposits as low as Tk 10, Tk 50, or Tk 100, catering to low-income individuals, students under 25, street children, and working children. Excluding specialized accounts for students, street and working children, the number of Tk 10/50/100 accounts reached 2.95 crore, with total deposits amounting to Tk 5,490.92 crore.
Among these accounts, those linked to social safety net programs held the largest portion at 36.78 percent, closely followed by accounts for farmers at 36.33 percent. NFAs also serve as conduits for inward remittances, with a cumulative total of Tk 835.43 crore received through these accounts by June.
In the same period, 7.87 lakh new student banking accounts were initiated following the latest guidelines by Bangladesh Bank. Additionally, 18 banks, in collaboration with 49 non-governmental organizations, managed 40,607 accounts for street children and working children.
To ensure financial inclusion across all segments of society, Bangladesh Bank has implemented various measures, directing banks to facilitate account openings with nominal deposits for marginalized populations. These accounts do not mandate minimum balances or service fees, offering comparatively higher interest rates to support low-income earners.
Commonly referred to as no-frill accounts, these accounts are aimed at groups such as farmers, garment workers, impoverished individuals, and recipients of social safety net schemes. They also encompass student banking accounts permitting individuals up to 25 years to commence banking with an initial deposit of Tk 100.
By the June 2026 quarter, the government had dispersed subsidies or wages to 7,189,291 NFAs held by diverse marginalized groups.
