EBL named ‘Best Bank in Bangladesh’ for the sixth time by Euromoney

Eastern Bank PLC (EBL) has been recognised as the ‘Best Bank in Bangladesh’ at the Euromoney Awards for Excellence 2025, marking the bank’s sixth win of this prestigious international honour, according to a press release.

Ali Reza Iftekhar, Managing Director of EBL, said, “This recognition from Euromoney reflects our relentless focus on excellence, customer-centric innovation, and value creation across all segments. We are deeply grateful to our customers, employees, and partners who inspire us to keep moving forward.”

During the last year (2024) year, despite global economic challenges, EBL delivered outstanding results with net profit increasing by 22.8 per cent, total assets growing by 21.1 per cent. The bank’s return on equity rose to 18.6 per cent while keeping the nonperforming loan ratio at 3.34 per cent. EBL retained the highest AAA credit rating in the industry for three years in a row.

The bank continued to strengthen its retail and SME portfolios. Notable initiatives included the launch of the EBL High Earning Account and enhancements to its digital banking platforms, resulting in a 12 per cent growth in retail loans while maintaining sound asset quality. In SME banking, EBL introduced EBL Shohoz, a secured lending product designed to empower small entrepreneurs.

EBL’s payroll banking business also recorded robust growth, onboarding 361 new companies, a 37 per cent increase year-over-year. Demonstrating its commitment to gender-inclusive banking, the bank launched the country’s first Women Payroll Suite in 2024, offering tailored financial solutions for female professionals.

Reinforcing its position as a financial innovator, EBL became the first bank in Bangladesh to receive regulatory approval to offer both life and non-life insurance products, expanding its suite of integrated financial services.