The roots of banking in Nepal can be traced back to the early 20th century. The pioneering financial institution to emerge in the nation was Nepal Bank Limited (NBL), established in 1937 AD. The foundation of NBL marked the initiation of formal banking practices in Nepal. In this article, we present a comprehensive list of Banks and Financial Institutions operating in Nepal.
{tocify} $title={Table of Content}
List of banks and financial institutions in Nepal
- The Central Bank of Nepal: Nepal Rastra Bank
- Commercial Banks: Class A
- Development Banks: Class B
- Finance Companies: Class C
- Micro Credits Development Banks: Class D
- Payment Service Provider
- Payment System Operator
- Infrastructure Development Bank
- Hire Purchase
- Representative Office
- Cooperatives
- Investment and Development
The Central Bank of Nepal: Nepal Rastra Bank
In 1956 AD, the Nepal Rastra Bank was founded as Nepal's Central Bank. Functioning as the monetary, regulatory, and supervisory authority for banks and financial institutions, it bears several pivotal objectives. These encompass ensuring price and balance of payments stability, proficiently managing liquidity and financial stability, fostering a robust payments system, and promoting the growth of financial services.
Presently, the esteemed position of Governor of the Nepal Rastra Bank is held by Mr. Maha Prasad Adhikari. Notably, the operations of all banks in Nepal are subject to the control and oversight of the Nepal Rastra Bank.
Commercial Bank: Class A
Commercial banks are Class ‘A’ type Financial Institutions. Nepal Bank Limited (established in 1937 AD) is the first commercial bank in Nepal.
A commercial bank is a type of financial institution that provides a wide range of banking services to individuals, businesses, and other organizations. These banks are profit-driven entities that aim to generate revenue through various banking activities. They play a vital role in the economy by facilitating financial intermediation between depositors and borrowers.
Functions of the commercial banks are; accepting deposits; advancing loan, letter of credit, guarantee, remittance, e-banking, bills etc. These banks provide banking facility to the customer through bank branches, branchless banking service, mobile banking, internet banking, ATMs, debit cards, credit cards, etc.
At present, there are 20 Commercial Banks in Nepal.
- Nepal Bank Limited.
- Rastriya Banijya Bank.
- Nabil Bank Limited.
- Nepal Investment Mega Bank Limited.
- Standard Chartered Bank Nepal Limited.
- Himalayan Bank Limited.
- Nepal SBI Bank Limited.
- Everest Bank Limited.
- NIC ASIA Bank Limited.
- Machhapuchchhre Bank Limited.
- Kumari Bank Limited.
- Laxmi Bank Limited.
- Siddhartha Bank Limited.
- Agriculture Development Bank.
- Global IME Bank Limited.
- Citizens Bank International Limited.
- Prime Commercial Bank Limited.
- NMB Bank Limited.
- Prabhu Bank Limited.
- Sanima Bank Limited.
Development Bank: Class B
Development banks, also known as development finance institutions (DFIs), are specialized financial institutions that focus on providing long-term financing and support for developmental projects and initiatives. Unlike commercial banks, their primary objective is to foster economic growth, alleviate poverty, and promote socio-economic development in a country or region. Development banks play a crucial role in financing projects that may have higher risks and longer gestation periods, which commercial banks may be reluctant to fund due to their short-term profit-driven nature.
Latest data from Nepal Rastra Bank, at present, there are 17 Development Banks in Nepal.
- Mahalaxmi Bikas Bank Limited.
- Narayani Development Bank Limited.
- Karnali Development Bank Limited.
- Shangrila Development Bank Limited.
- Excel Development Bank Limited.
- Miteri Development Bank Limited.
- Muktinath Bikas Bank Limited.
- Garima Bikas Bank Limited.
- Kamana Sewa Bikash Bank Limited.
- Corporate Development Bank Limited.
- Jyoti Bikas Bank Limited.
- Shine Resunga Development Bank Limited.
- Lumbini Bikas Bank Limited.
- Sindhu Bikas Bank Limited.
- Salapa Bikas Bank Limited.
- Saptakoshi Development Bank Limited.
- Green Development Bank Limited.
Finance Company: Class C
finance companies play a vital role in providing various financial services to individuals and businesses, especially in areas where traditional banking services may be limited.
Latest data from Nepal Rastra Bank, at present, there are 17 finance companies in Nepal.
- Nepal Finance Limited.
- Nepal Share Markets and Finance Limited.
- Gurkhas Finance Limited.
- Goodwill Finance Limited.
- Shree Investment & Finance Co. Limited.
- Best Finance Limited.
- Progressive Finance Limited.
- Janaki Finance Co. Limited.
- Pokhara Finance Limited.
- Central Finance Limited.
- Multipurpose Finance Limited.
- Samriddhi Finance Company Limited.
- Capital Merchant Banking & Finance Co. Limited.
- Guheshwori Merchant Banking & Finance Limited.
- ICFC Finance Limited.
- Manjushree Financial Institution Limited.
- Reliance Finance Limited.
Microfinance Institutions: Class D
Microfinance Institutions are ‘D’ type Financial Institutions. As per the latest data from Nepal Rastra Bank, there are 57 Microfinance Institutions in Nepal.
- Grameen Bikas Laghubitta Bittiya Sanstha Limited.
- Nirdhan Utthan Laghubitta Bittiya Sanstha Limited.
- Deprosc Laghubitta Bittiya Sanstha Limited.
- Chhimek Laghubitta Bittiya Sanstha Limited.
- Swabalamban Laghubitta Bittiya Sanstha Limited.
- Sana Kisan Bikas Laghubitta Bittiya Sanstha Limited.
- Nerude Laghubitta Bittiya Sanstha Limited.
- Sworojagar Laghubitta Bittiya Sanstha Limited.
- First Microfinance Laghubitta Bittiya Sanstha Limited.
- Kalika Laghubitta Bittiya Sanstha Ltd.
- Mirmire Laghubitta Bittiya Sanstha Ltd.
- Janautthan Samudayik Laghubitta Bittiya Sanstha Ltd.
- Mithila Laghubitta Bittiya Sanstha Ltd.
- Suryodaya Womi Laghubitta Bittiya Sanstha Ltd.
- Laxmi Laghubitta Bittiya Sanstha Ltd.
- Civil Laghubitta Bittiya Sanstha Ltd.
- Vijaya Laghubitta Bittiya Sanstha Ltd.
- NMB Laghubitta Bittiya Sanstha Ltd.
- Forward Microfinance Laghubitta Bittiya Sanstha Ltd.
- Global IME Laghubitta Bittiya Sanstha Limited.
- Mahuli Laghubitta Bittiya Sanstha Ltd.
- Meromicrofinance Laghubitta Bittiya Sanatha Ltd.
- Samata Gharelu Laghubitta Bittiya sanstha Limited
- RSDC Laghubitta Bitiya Sanstha Ltd.
- Samudayik Laghubitta Bitiya Sanstha Ltd.
- National Microfinance Laghubitta Bittiya Sanstha Ltd.
- WEAN Nepal Laghubitta Bittiya Sanstha Limited.
- Unnati Sahakarya Laghubitta Bittiya Sanstha Ltd.
- NADEP Laghubitta Bittiya Sanstha Limited.
- Support Laghubitta Bittiya Sanstha Limited.
- Arambha Chautari Laghubitta Bittiya Sanstha Limited.
- Asha Laghubitta Bittiya Sanstha Ltd.
- Gurans Laghubitta Bittiya Sanstha Ltd.
- Ganapati Laghubitta Bittiya Sastha Ltd.
- Infinity Laghubitta Bittiya Sanstha Ltd.
- Swabhiman Laghubitta Bittiya Sanstha Ltd.
- Sabaiko Laghubitta Bittiya Sanstha Ltd.
- Sadhana Laghubitta Bittiya Sanstha Ltd.
- NIC Asia Laghubitta Bittiya Sanstha Ltd.
- Manakamana Smart Laghubitta Bittiya Sanstha Ltd.
- Samaj Laghubitta Bittiya Sanstha Ltd.
- Mahila Laghubitta Bittiya Sanstha Limited.
- Unique Nepal Lagubitta Bittiya Sanstha Ltd.
- Jalpa Samudayik Laghubitta Bittiya Sanstha Limited.
- Manushi Laghubitta Bittiya Sanstha Limited.
- Upakar Laghubitta Bittiya Sanstha Limited.
- BPW Laghubitta Bittiya Sanstha Limited.
- Dhaulagiri Laghubitta Bittiya Sanstha Limited.
- CYC Nepal Laghubitta Bittiya Sanstha Limited.
- NESDO Samriddha Laghubitta Bittiya Sanstha Limited.
- Aatmanirbhar Laghubitta Bittiya Sanstha Limited.
- Swastik Laghubitta Bittiya Sanstha Limited.
- Shrijanshil Laghubitta Bittiya Sanstha Limited.
- Kisan Laghubitta Bittiya Sanstha Limited.
- Jeevan Bikas Laghubitta Bittiya Sanstha Limited.
- Super Laghubitta Bittiya Sanstha Limited.
- Aviyan Laghubitta Bittiya Sanstha Limited.
Payment Service Provider
- Esewa Phonepay Pvt Ltd.
- IME Digital Solution Limited.
- Prabhu Technology Pvt. Limited.
- Q-Pay Pvt. Ltd.
- Khalti Private Limited.
- Cellcom Private Limited.
- Nepal Pay Time Pvt. Ltd.
- Mohar Digital Pvt. Ltd.
- Pay Nep Pvt Ltd.
- CG Pay Nepal Pvt. Ltd.
- Smart Card Nepal Pvt. Ltd.
- E-Net Payment Pvt. Ltd.
- FocusOne Payment Solutions Pvt. Ltd.
- Kuraakani Pay Pvt. Ltd.
- Goldmine Business Group Pvt. Ltd.
- PayWell Nepal Pvt. Ltd.
- We Pay Pvt. Ltd.
- Fintech International Pvt. Ltd.
- Lenden Sewa Pvt. Ltd.
- Digi Pay Pvt. Ltd.
- Nepal E Bij Management Pvt. Ltd.
- I Pay Pvt. Ltd.
- I Cash Private Limited.
- Nepal Digital Payments Company Limited.
- Sulav Pay Private Limited.
- Chitto Paisa Private Limited.
- Sajilo Pay Payment Services Pvt. Ltd.
Payment System Operator
- Smart Choice Technologies Ltd.
- Nepal Clearing House Limited.
- Nepal Electronic Payment System Ltd.
- Nepal Payment Solution Pvt. Ltd.
- Fonepay Payment Service Limited.
- Union Pay International Company Limited.
- Visa Worldwide Pvt Ltd.
- Mastercard Asia/Pacific Pvt. Ltd.
- First Pay Technology Pvt. Ltd.
- Gateway Payment Service Pvt. Ltd.
Infrastructure Development Bank
- Nepal Infrastructure Bank Limited.
Hire Purchase
- Omni Pvt. Ltd.
- Hulas Fin Serve Ltd.
- Sipradi Hire Purchase Pvt. Ltd.
- Batas Investment Co. Pvt. Ltd.
- M.A.W. Investment Pvt. Ltd.
- Syakar Investment Pvt. Ltd.
- Jagadamba Credit & Investment Pvt. Ltd.
- Venture Hire Purchase Pvt. Ltd.
- Manakamana Hire Purchase Pvt. Ltd.
- Agni Hire Purchase Pvt. Ltd.
Representative Office
- Mashreq Bank PSC
- Doha Bank
- ICICI Bank Limited.
Cooperatives
- Rastriya Sahakari Bank Ltd.
Investment and Development
- Hydroelectricity Investment & Development Company Ltd.
We would love to hear your feedback on the article about the list of banks and financial institutions in Nepal. Kindly take a moment to share your thoughts in the comments section below. Your input is valuable to us and will help us improve our content to better serve your informational needs.