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'''Uttara Bank Limited'''  one of the largest and oldest private sector commercial bank in Bangladesh. It was set up as a scheduled bank of the Eastern Banking Corporation in East Pakistan in 1965 and Corporation started banking on 22 June of the same year. It became a member of the Dhaka Clearing House on 17 September 1965. At the time of establishment Eastern Banking Corporation had a paid up capital of Tk 1.42 million and deposit resources of about Tk 10 million. It was the only scheduled bank established with capital raised entirely from the small income group of people of East Pakistan. Eastern Banking Corporation was nationalised under the Bangladesh Banks (Nationalisation) Order 1972 and took rename Uttara Bank with 95% of its share capital. At that time the bank had 182 branches. The government retracted and allowed it to operate as a private bank. It was transformed into a limited company on 15 September 1983. On 31 December 2000, the authorised capital of the bank was Tk 200 million divided into 2 million ordinary shares of Tk 100 each. Its paid up capital was Tk 100 million, of which Tk 5 million is subscribed by the government. The bank is listed with both Dhaka and Chittagong [[Stock Exchange|stock exchange]].  
'''Uttara Bank Limited'''  is one of the largest and oldest private sector commercial bank in Bangladesh. It was set up as a scheduled bank of the Eastern Banking Corporation in East Pakistan in 1965 and Corporation started banking on 22 June of the same year. It became a member of the Dhaka Clearing House on 17 September 1965. At the time of establishment Eastern Banking Corporation had a paid up capital of Tk 1.42 million and deposit resources of about Tk 10 million. It was the only scheduled bank established with capital raised entirely from the small income group of people of East Pakistan. Eastern Banking Corporation was nationalised under the Bangladesh Banks (Nationalisation) Order 1972 and took rename Uttara Bank with 95% of its share capital. At that time the bank had 182 branches. The government retracted and allowed it to operate as a private bank. It was transformed into a limited company on 15 September 1983. On 31 December 2000, the authorised capital of the bank was Tk 10000 million. Its paid up capital was Tk 5019 million. The bank is listed with both Dhaka and Chittagong [[Stock Exchange|stock exchange]].  
 
The management of the bank is vested in a 15-member board of directors consisting of a chairman, a vice Chairman and 12 directors. The managing director is the chief executive assisted by a deputy managing director and 2 assistant managing directors. With two corporate offices and 11 divisions at its headquarter banking activities of Uttara Bank Limited in 241 branches are supervised through its 12 zonal offices in different parts of the country.
 
Basic Facts and Economic Indicators (In Million Taka)


{| class="table table-bordered table-hover"
{| class="table table-bordered table-hover"
|-
! colspan="7" | Basic facts and economic indicators (in million Taka)
|-
| বিবরণ  || ২০০৪  || ২০০৫  || ২০০৬  || ২০০৭  || ২০০৮  || ২০০৯
|-
| অনুমোদিত মূলধন  || ২০০  || ২০০  || ১০০০  || ১০০০  || ১৬০০  || ৩২০০
|-
| পরিশোধিত মূলধন  || ১০০  || ১০০  || ২০০  || ৩৯৯  || ৭৯৯  || ১৫৯৭
|-
| রিজার্ভ ফান্ড  || ১৭৪২  || ১৭৬৫  || ১৮৬৬  || ২০৫৪  || ২৮৯০  || ৪৬১০
|-
| আমানত  || ৩৪৬১৫  || ৩৬৮৯২  || ৩৯৩৬০  || ৪৩৫৮৬  || ৫০৮১৭  || ৫৯৩৮৭
|-
| ক) তলবি আমানত  || ৭৯৯০  || ৭৮৩৯  || ৯৯১৮  || ১১৯৭৮  || ১৩৬২৫  || ১৪২২২
|-
| খ) মেয়াদি আমানত  || ২৬৬২৫  || ২৯০৫৩  || ২৯৪৪২  || ৩১৬০৮  || ৩৭১৯২  || ৪৫১৬৬
|-
| ঋণ ও অগ্রিম  || ১৮৬০১  || ২১৮৫০  || ২৫১৬৪  || ২৮৪৭৭  || ৩৭১৪১  || ৩৯৪৫১
|-
| বিনিয়োগ  || ১২৭৯৪  || ১০০৬২  || ৯৫৬৫  || ১৪৪৫৬  || ১১১৮৮  || ২২৫০৩
|-
| মোট পরিসম্পদ  || ৪০১৫৫  || ৪২০৬২  || ৪৫২১৭  || ৫২৮৬০  || ৫৮৪৪৪  || ৭১৯৪৬
|-
| মোট আয়  || ৩৮২১  || ৪২৬৫  || ৪৪৩৫  || ৫০২০  || ৬৩১৪  || ৭৩৯৭
|-
| মোট ব্যয়  || ২৬১১  || ২৬৫০  || ৩১৫৩  || ৩৫৫৪  || ৪০০৮  || ৪৮৮৩
|-
| বৈদেশিক মুদ্রা ব্যবসা পরিচালনা  || ৬২৯২৩  || ৬৮৫৬০  || ৬৯৪৯৩  || ৬৯৭৬৮  || ৮২২৬০  || ৮৮৮৬২
|-
| ক) রপ্তানি  || ১৯১৩৩  || ১৮১৯২  || ১৮১৩৪  || ১৪৭৮৫  || ১৫০৪০  || ১৫০৯৭
|-
| খ) আমদানি  || ২৪০৮০  || ২৩০৯২  || ২২৬৩১  || ২৫৪০৮  || ৩১১৪৭  || ২৯১২৯
|-
| গ) রেমিট্যান্স  || ১৯৭১০  || ২৭২৭৬  || ২৮৭২৮  || ২৯৫৭৫  || ৩৬০৭৩  || ৪৪৬৩৫
|-
| মোট জনশক্তি (সংখ্যায়)  || ৩৩৮২  || ৩২৬৫  || ৩৫০৫  || ৩৪৭৬  || ৩৪৭৬  || ৩২৯১
|-
| ক) কর্মকর্তা  || ২১৫৩  || ২০৮৫  || ২২৭২  || ২৩৭২  || ২৩১১  || ২১২৩
|-
| খ) কর্মচারী  || ১১২৯  || ১১৮০  || ১২৩৩  || ১১০৪  || ১১৬৫  || ১১৬৮
|-
| বিদেশী প্রতিষঙ্গী ব্যাংক (সংখ্যায়)  || ৬২৯  || ৬২৯  || ৬৪৮  || ৬৮৬  || ৭২০  || ৬৬২
|-
| শাখা (সংখ্যায়)  || ১৯৮  || ১৯৮  || ২০১  || ২০৭  || ২০৭  || ২১১
|-
| ক) দেশে  || ১৯৮  || ১৯৮  || ২০১  || ২০৭  || ২০৭  || ২১১
|-
| খ) বিদেশে  || -  || -  || -  || -  || -  || -
|-
| কৃষিখাতে  ||  ||  ||  ||  ||  ||
|-
| ক) ঋণ বিতরণ  || -  || ২০  || -  || ৫০  || ৮৭  || ২৫৩
|-
| খ) আদায়  || -  || ১৫  || -  || -  || ৪০  || ৭৫
|-
| শিল্প খাতে  ||  ||  ||  ||  ||  ||
|-
| ক) ঋণ বিতরণ  || ৩৮৩০  || ৪৭৮৬  || ৬২৪৩  || ৩২৫০  || ৭১২৬  || ৫২৮৮
|-
| খ) আদায়  || ৩৭৪২  || ৪৩৬৬  || ৫৯২১  || ১৮২৩  || ৩৯১৫  || ৭৪৮৯
|-
| খাতভিত্তিক  ঋণের স্থিতি  ||  ||  ||  ||  ||  ||
|-
| ক) কৃষি ও মৎস্য  || ১৭  || ১৬  || ১৮  || ৬১  || ৭৩  || ৪৩৮
|-
| খ) শিল্প  || ৩৪২৩  || ৪৪৫৮  || ১৭২৩  || ৫০১২  || ৬১৯২  || ৫৫৬০
|-
| গ) ব্যবসাবাণিজ্য  || ১০২৭৩  || ৯৮৯০  || ১১৭০৬  || ১৫৪৯৫  || ২২০০  || ১৬৬৬৯
|-
| ঘ) দারিদ্র্য বিমোচন  || ৬০  || ৪৫  || ৪৮  || ৫  || ৭  || ৩৫
|}
<p class=style1>Basic facts and economic indicators (in million Taka).
|-
|-
|Indicators || 2004 || 2005 || 2006 || 2007 || 2008 || 2009
|Indicators || 2018 || 2019 || 2020
|-
|-
|Authorised capital || 200 || 200 || 1000 ||  1000 ||  1600 ||  3200
|Authorized Capital || 6000 || 6000 || 10000
|-
|-
|Paid up capital || 100 || 100 || 200 ||  399 ||  799 ||  1597
|Paid up Capital || 4000.8 || 4080.8 || 5019.4
|-
|-
|Reserved Fund || 1742 || 1765 || 1866 ||  2054 ||  2890 ||  4610
|Reserved Fund || 10781.4 || 11581.4 || 12449.7
|-
|-
|Deposits || 34615 || 36892 || 39360 ||  43586 ||  50817 ||  59387
|Deposits || 153057.8 || 156921.1 || 181275.5
|-
|-
|a) Call Deposits || 7990 || 7839 || 9918 ||  11978 ||  13625 ||  14222
|a) Call Deposits || 67855.2 || 64832.2 || 71189.6
|-
|-
|b) Term Deposits || 26625 || 29053 || 29442 ||  31608 ||  37192 ||  45166
|b) Term Deposits || 85202.6 || 92088.9 || 11085.9
|-
|-
|Loans and Advance || 18601 || 21850 || 25164 ||  28477 ||  37141 ||  39451
|Loans and Advances || 118789.7 || 124670.7 || 133854
|-
|-
|Investment || 12794 || 10062 || 9565 ||  14456 ||  11188 ||  22503
|Investment || 28669.3 || 29903.1 || 31347.3
|-
|-
|Total Asset || 40155 || 42062 || 45217 ||  52860 ||  58444 ||  71946
|Total Asset || 190029.9 || 193161.6 || 222600.2
|-
|-
|Total income || 3821 || 4265 || 4435 ||  5020 ||  6314 ||  7397
|Total Income || 17097.5 || 17225.2 || 15732.3
|-
|-
|Total Expenditure || 2611 || 2650 || 3153 ||  3554 ||  4008 ||  4883
| Total Expenditure || 13186 || 12418.9 || 11850
|-
|-
|Foreign Currency Trading || 62923 || 68560 || 69493 ||  69768 ||  82260 ||  88862
|Foreign Currency Trading || 111930.3 || 112279 || 112352.4
|-
|-
|a) Export || 19133 || 18192 || 18134 ||  14785 ||  15040 ||  15097
|a) Export || 17115.7 || 23322.2 || 61594.2
|-
|-
|b) Import || 24080 || 23090 || 22631 || 25408 ||  31147 || 29129
|b) Import || 56018 || 56307.7 || 26022.1
|-
|-
|c) Remittance || 19710 || 27276 || 28728 ||  29575 ||  36073 ||  44635
|c) Remittance || 38796.6 || 32649.1 || 24736.1
|-
|-
|Total Manpower || 3382 || 3265 || 3505 ||  3476 ||  3476 ||  3291
|Total manpower || 3527 || 3515 || 3801
|-
|-
|a) Officers || 2153 || 2085 || 2272 ||  2372 ||  2311 ||  2123
|a) Officers || 2958 || 3018 || 2897
|-
|-
|b) Staff || 1129 || 1180 || 1233 ||  1104 ||  1165 ||  1164
|b) Staff || 569 || 497 || 904
|-
|-
|Correspondent Banks || 629 || 629 || 648 ||  686 ||  720 ||  662
|Correspondent Banks || 536 || 526 || 380
|-
|-
|Total Branches (in numbers) || 198 || 198 || 201 ||  207 ||  207 ||  211
|Total Branches (in numbers) || 235 || 239 || 241
|-
|-
|a) Domestic || 198 || 198 || 201 ||  207 ||  207 ||  211
|a) Domestic || 235 || 239 || 241
|-
|-
|b) Overseas || - || - || - ||  - ||  -
|b) Overseas || 0 || 0 || 0
|-
|-
|Agriculture Credit  
|Agriculture Credit
|-
|-
|a) Loan Disbursed || - || 20 || - ||  50 ||  87 ||  253
|Loan Disbursed || 1726.8 || 2092.7 || 2978.2
|-
|-
|b) Realised || - || 15 || - ||  - ||  40 ||  75
|Realised || 1116.3 || 2448.4 || 2060.8
|-
|-
|Industrial Credit
|Industrial Credit
|-
|-
|a) Loan Disbursed || 3830 || 4786 || 6243 ||  3250 ||  7126 ||  5288
|Loan Disbursed || 37278.6 || 18268.6 || 31691.2
|-
|-
|b) Realsied || 3742 || 4366 || 5921 ||  1823 ||  3915 ||  7489
|Realsied || 34518.4 || 38449.6 || 29642.1
|-
|-
|Loan Outstanding by Sector
|Loan Outstanding by Sector
|-
|-
|a) Agriculture and Fisheries || 17 ||  16 ||  18 ||  61 || 73 || 438
|Agriculture and Fisheries and Forestry || 2805.5 || 2423.7 || 3398.1
|-
|-
|b) Industry || 3423 || 4458 || 1723 ||  5012 ||  6192 ||  5560
|Industry || 10475.6 || 6624.2 || 8624.1
|-
|-
|c) Trade and Commerce || 10273 || 9890 || 11706 ||  15495 ||  2200 ||  16669
|Trade and Commerce || 52750.3 || 50942.6 || 54164.2
|-
|-
|d) Poverty Reduction || 60 || 45 || 48 || 5 || 7 || 35
|Poverty Reduction || 159.3 || 3.5 ||  
}
|-
''Source''  Government of Bangladesh, Ministry of Finance, Banking and Financial Institution Division, Bank o Arthik Prothisthan Samuher Karjaboli [Annual Report on Banks and Financial Institutions], 2004-05 to 2009-10.
|CSR || 92.9 || 38.2 || 79.2
 
|}
The management of the bank is vested in a 13-member board of directors consisting of a chairman and 12 directors. The managing director is the chief executive assisted by a deputy managing director and 2 assistant managing directors. With two corporate offices and 11 divisions at its headquarter banking activities of Uttara Bank Limited in 211 branches are supervised through its 12 zonal offices in different parts of the country.


The authorised capital of the bank stood at Tk 3200 million in 2009 from Tk 1600 million in 2008. The paid up capital rose to Tk 1597 million in 2009 from Tk 799 million in 2008. The reserve fund of the bank stood at Tk 4,610 million in 2009 from Tk 2890 million in 2008.
''Source'' Government of Bangladesh, Ministry of Finance, Banking and Financial Institution Division, ''Barshik Protibedon'' [Annual Report on Banks and Financial Institutions], 2019-20 and 2020-21.


Uttara Bank performs all traditional commercial banking functions. It renders agency services to the government in food procurement and collection of government revenue through the network of its branches all over the country. The bank has correspondent relationships with 662 foreign banks/bank offices and 65 exchange houses. Of them Arabian Exchange Company in Doha, Qatar is being operated under bank';s own management and supervision. On the other hand wage earners from any place of the world can remit their money to Bangladesh through Money Gram Company of USA under a protocol signed between Uttara Bank and the Money Gram. Money so remitted is transferred to the beneficiaries accounts quickly through 207 branches of the bank.
Uttara Bank performs all traditional commercial banking functions. It renders agency services to the government in food procurement and collection of government revenue through the network of its branches all over the country. The bank has correspondent relationships with 662 foreign banks/bank offices and 65 exchange houses. Of them Arabian Exchange Company in Doha, Qatar is being operated under bank’s own management and supervision. On the other hand wage earners from any place of the world can remit their money to Bangladesh through Money Gram Company of USA under a protocol signed between Uttara Bank and the Money Gram. Money so remitted is transferred to the beneficiaries accounts quickly through 241 branches of the bank.


With the objective of attracting the Bangladeshi wage earners abroad and the non-resident foreigners to invest in Bangladesh, the bank offered them the opportunity to open Non-resident Foreign Currency Deposit (NFCD) account, Foreign Currency Current Deposit (FCCD) account, Wage Earners Development Bond (WEDB) and Non-resident Investment Taka Account (NRITA). For this purposes the bank established Home Remittance Cell (SRC). The bank has some other schemes to induce the wage earners to invest their savings in the securities market of the country. Any Bangladeshi national can open Resident Foreign Currency Deposit (RFCD) account with any authorised branch of Uttara Bank to retain excess of foreign travel quota, or foreign exchange earning. The bank has earned a reputation and confidence of the wage earners in successfully transmitting foreign income to their beneficiaries promptly and without hassles. Remittances rose to Tk 44,635 million in 2009 from Tk 36073 million in 2008. Money remitted from any corner of world is ascertaind to be deposited in the account of the recipient within two hours of its arrival under Express Payment Scheme of Uttara Bank. Clients who have no account in the bank can receive remittance in cash in the counter through their passports, driving licenses, remittance cards, voter ID cards and credit cards under its Instant Cash Scheme. Besides, the bank delivers a draft dispatched by a money sending company, to the address of the recipient and pays him the equivalent money of the foreign currency under Instant Draft Scheme.
With the objective of attracting the Bangladeshi wage earners abroad and the non-resident foreigners to invest in Bangladesh, the bank offered them the opportunity to open Non-resident Foreign Currency Deposit (NFCD) account, Foreign Currency Current Deposit (FCCD) account, Wage Earners Development Bond (WEDB) and Non-resident Investment Taka Account (NRITA). For this purposes the bank established Home Remittance Cell (SRC). The bank has some other schemes to induce the wage earners to invest their savings in the securities market of the country. Any Bangladeshi national can open Resident Foreign Currency Deposit (RFCD) account with any authorised branch of Uttara Bank to retain excess of foreign travel quota, or foreign exchange earning. The bank has earned a reputation and confidence of the wage earners in successfully transmitting foreign income to their beneficiaries promptly and without hassles. Remittances fell from 32649 million in 2019 to Tk 24,736 million in 2020 due to Covid 19. Money remitted from any corner of world is ascertained to be deposited in the account of the recipient within two hours of its arrival under Express Payment Scheme of Uttara Bank. Clients who have no account in the bank can receive remittance in cash in the counter through their passports, driving licenses, remittance cards, voter ID cards and credit cards under its Instant Cash Scheme. Besides, the bank delivers a draft dispatched by a money sending company, to the address of the recipient and pays him the equivalent money of the foreign currency under Instant Draft Scheme.


E-mail and Internet connections are available in almost all the branches of the bank including headquarters to speed up foreign exchange transactions. Swift system is available in 38 branches and international division. It has introduced Q-Cash, UBL-ATM Debit Card through which the customer can draw cash and transfer money within 24 hours. It has an individual ATM booth. This service of the bank is operated all over the country through 121 Q-cash ATM booths and all ATM booths of [[BRAC Bank Limited|brac bank]]. Bank has introduced ''Nari Swanirvar Rin Prokalpa'' to make the women entrepreneurs self-supporting.  
E-mail and Internet connections are available in almost all the branches of the bank including headquarters to speed up foreign exchange transactions. SWIFT system is available in 38 branches and international division. It has introduced Q-Cash, UBL-ATM Debit Card through which the customer can draw cash and transfer money within 24 hours. It has an individual ATM booth. This service of the bank is operated all over the country through 121 Q-cash ATM booths and all ATM booths of BRAC Bank. Bank has introduced Nari Swanirvar Rin Prokalpa to make the women entrepreneurs self-supporting.  


The bank is actively associated with syndicated financing to innovate both domestic and foreign investments in Bangladesh. Bank has participated in syndicated lending to AKTEL, BRAC, Dhaka Telephone Company Limited, Rankstel Limited, BSRM Steels Limited, Grameenphone Limited, Warid Telecome Limited, Sheba Telecom Limited, Venture Capital Energy Limited, Akber Composit Limited, Rising Spinning Limited, Malancha Holding Limited, Banga Builders Limited etc.
The bank is actively associated with syndicated financing to innovate both domestic and foreign investments in Bangladesh. Bank has participated in syndicated lending to BRAC, Dhaka Telephone Company Limited, Rankstel Limited, BSRM Steels Limited, Grameenphone Limited, Warid Telecome Limited, Sheba Telecom Limited, Venture Capital Energy Limited, Akber Composit Limited, Rising Spinning Limited, Malancha Holding Limited, Banga Builders Limited etc.
To meet the credit demand of small income group of rural and the urban area and to create employment for jobless youths and young women, the bank has introduced some special CREDIT facilities. Bank is channeling special credit through its Bhagalpur branch in Kishoreganj district in dairy and poultry products to create job for the poor segment population of the area. Bank has been maintaining a special marketing outlet Uttaran since 1996, which is becoming popular among the buyers of marginal income.  


To meet the credit demand of small income group of rural and the urban area and to create employment for jobless youths and young women, the bank has introduced some special [[credit]] facilities. Bank is channeling special credit through its Bhagalpur branch in Kishoreganj district in dairy and poultry products to create job for the poor segment population of the area. Bank has been maintaining a special marketing outlet '''Uttaran'' since 1996, which is becoming popular among the buyers of marginal income. [Muhammad Abdul Mazid]
In 2020, bank deposits accounted for 1.2 percent of total banking sector deposits and loans and advances accounted for 1.1 per cent of total banking sector loans and advances. The average interest rate differential between June 2020 based deposits and loans and advances was 4.9 percent. [Muhammad Abdul Mazid]  


[[Category:Financial Institutes]]
[[Category:Financial Institutes]]


[[bn:উত্তরা ব্যাংক লিমিটেড]]
[[bn:উত্তরা ব্যাংক লিমিটেড]]

Latest revision as of 20:32, 13 October 2023

Uttara Bank Limited is one of the largest and oldest private sector commercial bank in Bangladesh. It was set up as a scheduled bank of the Eastern Banking Corporation in East Pakistan in 1965 and Corporation started banking on 22 June of the same year. It became a member of the Dhaka Clearing House on 17 September 1965. At the time of establishment Eastern Banking Corporation had a paid up capital of Tk 1.42 million and deposit resources of about Tk 10 million. It was the only scheduled bank established with capital raised entirely from the small income group of people of East Pakistan. Eastern Banking Corporation was nationalised under the Bangladesh Banks (Nationalisation) Order 1972 and took rename Uttara Bank with 95% of its share capital. At that time the bank had 182 branches. The government retracted and allowed it to operate as a private bank. It was transformed into a limited company on 15 September 1983. On 31 December 2000, the authorised capital of the bank was Tk 10000 million. Its paid up capital was Tk 5019 million. The bank is listed with both Dhaka and Chittagong stock exchange.

The management of the bank is vested in a 15-member board of directors consisting of a chairman, a vice Chairman and 12 directors. The managing director is the chief executive assisted by a deputy managing director and 2 assistant managing directors. With two corporate offices and 11 divisions at its headquarter banking activities of Uttara Bank Limited in 241 branches are supervised through its 12 zonal offices in different parts of the country.

Basic Facts and Economic Indicators (In Million Taka)

Indicators 2018 2019 2020
Authorized Capital 6000 6000 10000
Paid up Capital 4000.8 4080.8 5019.4
Reserved Fund 10781.4 11581.4 12449.7
Deposits 153057.8 156921.1 181275.5
a) Call Deposits 67855.2 64832.2 71189.6
b) Term Deposits 85202.6 92088.9 11085.9
Loans and Advances 118789.7 124670.7 133854
Investment 28669.3 29903.1 31347.3
Total Asset 190029.9 193161.6 222600.2
Total Income 17097.5 17225.2 15732.3
Total Expenditure 13186 12418.9 11850
Foreign Currency Trading 111930.3 112279 112352.4
a) Export 17115.7 23322.2 61594.2
b) Import 56018 56307.7 26022.1
c) Remittance 38796.6 32649.1 24736.1
Total manpower 3527 3515 3801
a) Officers 2958 3018 2897
b) Staff 569 497 904
Correspondent Banks 536 526 380
Total Branches (in numbers) 235 239 241
a) Domestic 235 239 241
b) Overseas 0 0 0
Agriculture Credit
Loan Disbursed 1726.8 2092.7 2978.2
Realised 1116.3 2448.4 2060.8
Industrial Credit
Loan Disbursed 37278.6 18268.6 31691.2
Realsied 34518.4 38449.6 29642.1
Loan Outstanding by Sector
Agriculture and Fisheries and Forestry 2805.5 2423.7 3398.1
Industry 10475.6 6624.2 8624.1
Trade and Commerce 52750.3 50942.6 54164.2
Poverty Reduction 159.3 3.5
CSR 92.9 38.2 79.2

Source Government of Bangladesh, Ministry of Finance, Banking and Financial Institution Division, Barshik Protibedon [Annual Report on Banks and Financial Institutions], 2019-20 and 2020-21.

Uttara Bank performs all traditional commercial banking functions. It renders agency services to the government in food procurement and collection of government revenue through the network of its branches all over the country. The bank has correspondent relationships with 662 foreign banks/bank offices and 65 exchange houses. Of them Arabian Exchange Company in Doha, Qatar is being operated under bank’s own management and supervision. On the other hand wage earners from any place of the world can remit their money to Bangladesh through Money Gram Company of USA under a protocol signed between Uttara Bank and the Money Gram. Money so remitted is transferred to the beneficiaries accounts quickly through 241 branches of the bank.

With the objective of attracting the Bangladeshi wage earners abroad and the non-resident foreigners to invest in Bangladesh, the bank offered them the opportunity to open Non-resident Foreign Currency Deposit (NFCD) account, Foreign Currency Current Deposit (FCCD) account, Wage Earners Development Bond (WEDB) and Non-resident Investment Taka Account (NRITA). For this purposes the bank established Home Remittance Cell (SRC). The bank has some other schemes to induce the wage earners to invest their savings in the securities market of the country. Any Bangladeshi national can open Resident Foreign Currency Deposit (RFCD) account with any authorised branch of Uttara Bank to retain excess of foreign travel quota, or foreign exchange earning. The bank has earned a reputation and confidence of the wage earners in successfully transmitting foreign income to their beneficiaries promptly and without hassles. Remittances fell from 32649 million in 2019 to Tk 24,736 million in 2020 due to Covid 19. Money remitted from any corner of world is ascertained to be deposited in the account of the recipient within two hours of its arrival under Express Payment Scheme of Uttara Bank. Clients who have no account in the bank can receive remittance in cash in the counter through their passports, driving licenses, remittance cards, voter ID cards and credit cards under its Instant Cash Scheme. Besides, the bank delivers a draft dispatched by a money sending company, to the address of the recipient and pays him the equivalent money of the foreign currency under Instant Draft Scheme.

E-mail and Internet connections are available in almost all the branches of the bank including headquarters to speed up foreign exchange transactions. SWIFT system is available in 38 branches and international division. It has introduced Q-Cash, UBL-ATM Debit Card through which the customer can draw cash and transfer money within 24 hours. It has an individual ATM booth. This service of the bank is operated all over the country through 121 Q-cash ATM booths and all ATM booths of BRAC Bank. Bank has introduced Nari Swanirvar Rin Prokalpa to make the women entrepreneurs self-supporting.

The bank is actively associated with syndicated financing to innovate both domestic and foreign investments in Bangladesh. Bank has participated in syndicated lending to BRAC, Dhaka Telephone Company Limited, Rankstel Limited, BSRM Steels Limited, Grameenphone Limited, Warid Telecome Limited, Sheba Telecom Limited, Venture Capital Energy Limited, Akber Composit Limited, Rising Spinning Limited, Malancha Holding Limited, Banga Builders Limited etc. To meet the credit demand of small income group of rural and the urban area and to create employment for jobless youths and young women, the bank has introduced some special CREDIT facilities. Bank is channeling special credit through its Bhagalpur branch in Kishoreganj district in dairy and poultry products to create job for the poor segment population of the area. Bank has been maintaining a special marketing outlet Uttaran since 1996, which is becoming popular among the buyers of marginal income.

In 2020, bank deposits accounted for 1.2 percent of total banking sector deposits and loans and advances accounted for 1.1 per cent of total banking sector loans and advances. The average interest rate differential between June 2020 based deposits and loans and advances was 4.9 percent. [Muhammad Abdul Mazid]