B Mirror Report: Bangladesh’s financial inclusion drive gathered further momentum in the December quarter of 2025, with the number of no-frill accounts (NFAs) surpassing 34 million and total deposits exceeding Tk 72.60 billion, according to the latest data from Bangladesh Bank (BB).

The number of low-cost bank accounts popularly known as Tk 10, Tk 50 and Tk 100 accounts stood at 34.20 million at the end of December 2025. Deposits in these accounts reached Tk 72.60 billion, reflecting a steady increase in savings among low-income and previously unbanked populations.

Excluding student and working-children accounts, the core segment of NFAs rose by 3.94 per cent year-on-year to 29.23 million, indicating continued expansion in basic banking services.

Bankers and analysts attributed the growth to expanded refinancing schemes, wider rural credit distribution and targeted financial programmes for small farmers and marginal entrepreneurs.

Social safety net (SSN) beneficiaries accounted for the largest share, making up 37.11 per cent of total accounts, highlighting the growing use of bank accounts for government allowance disbursement.

Farmers followed closely, representing 36.37 per cent of the total NFA base.

Officials said government-to-person (G2P) payments and agricultural financing have played a key role in strengthening financial inclusion across the country.

No-frill accounts are also emerging as an important channel for inward remittances. By the end of the reporting quarter, cumulative foreign remittances received through these accounts exceeded Tk 8.27 billion.

Banking sector officials said allowing low-income families to receive remittances directly into these accounts is helping shift transactions from informal hundi channels to the formal banking system, thereby supporting foreign exchange inflows.

The December quarter also saw renewed growth in school banking activities. A total of 126,027 new school banking accounts were opened during the period, marking a 2.62 per cent increase from the previous quarter. The growth followed a central bank directive requiring each bank branch to partner with at least one educational institution, along with the resumption of nationwide school banking awareness programmes.

However, financial inclusion efforts among vulnerable urban children showed a slight decline. Accounts for street children and working children fell by 0.45 per cent, with 18 banks currently managing 40,670 such accounts.