Banking industry in Bangladesh started its journey with 6 nationalized commercial banks, 2 state owned specialized banks and 3 foreign banks after the independence of the coumtry. From 1980 banking industry expanded significantly with the introduction of many private banks. At present 65 (schedule 60, non schedule 5) banks operating in Bangladesh which are categorized into two major groups Scheduled Banks & Non-Scheduled Banks.

Scheduled Banks

Scheduled banks are termed as the banks which get license to operate its business under Bank Company Act, 1991 (Amended upto 2013) which are fully controlled by Bangladesh Bank (Central Bank) and empowered by Bangladesh Bank Order 1972. Presently there are 60 scheduled banks operated in Bangladesh.

Scheduled Banks are classified by Bangladesh Bank into the following types

State Owned Commercial Banks (SOCBs)

Specialized Banks (SDBs)

Private Commercial Banks (PCBs)

Foreign Commercial Banks (FCBs)

Non-Scheduled Banks

The banks which are established for special and definite objective and operated under the acts that are dedicated for meeting up those objectives, are termed as Non-Scheduled Banks. These banks cannot perform all functions of scheduled banks. There are now 5 Non-Scheduled Banks in Bangladesh. Which are Ansar VDP Unnayan Bank, Karmashangosthan Bank, Probashi Kollyan Bank, Jubilee Bank, Grameen Bank.