Women lead in taking agent banking service

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Golam Mowla
Published : 07:30, Aug 20, 2019 | Updated : 10:49, Aug 20, 2019

This January 2018 photo shows a woman collecting a receipt after depositing money at an agent banking outlet of Bank Asia at Bhobanipur Bazar in Sirajdikhan, Munshiganj. BANK ASIAWomen are becoming more interested in agent banking than men; in the last three months, the deposit of women has risen by 60 percent against 34.75 percent by men, says a Bangladesh Bank report.
The report states that women are also ahead of men in opening accounts; between April 2019 and June, the number of agent banking accounts has risen by 20.36 percent for women and 16.33 percent for men.
As per the information of Bangladesh Bank, due to agent banking, remittance also reaches villages easily.
The report further adds that in five years, clients for agent banking stands at 3.42 million who deposited more than Tk 52.84 billion.
There are 8,671 agent support spots all over the country where nominated agents are working. As a result, banking facilities are available at unions and at schools.
Bangladesh Bank spokesperson Sirajul Islam, said: “Through agent banking, transactions can be carried out in remote areas within a short time.”
Agent banking is also safe, secure and based on modern technology and therefore, it’s expanding, he added.
As per information of the central bank, Dutch Bangla Bank leads the race with highest number of clients in agent banking with 1.54 million clients, followed by Bank Asia with 1.06 million clients.
MD of Dutch Bangla Bank, Abul Kashem, says: “Due to agent banking, we are getting deposit in the villages and this has had a positive impact on remittance.”
Bangladesh Bank says, number of accounts in villages through agent banking has been five times more.
Though Dutch Bangla has most clients, in expansion of agents and outlets, Bank Asia has the leading position. The bank has 2,960 outlets, while Dutch Bangla Bank has 2,953 outlets.
Through agents, the remittance till last June was Tk 93.49 billion.
Banks which have agent banking include: Dutch-Bangla Bank, Bank Asia, Al Arafah Islami Bank, Social Islami Bank, Modhumoti Bank, Mutual Trust Bank, NRB Commercial Bank, Standard Bank, Agrani Bank, First Security Islami Bank, Midland Bank, City Bank, Islami Bank Bangladesh Limited and others.

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