BRAC Bank recognised as sustainable SME financier in Asia

BRAC Bank has been honoured as the "Sustainable SME Financier of the Year - Asia" for its Water, Sanitation and Hygiene (WASH) financing programme.

Additional Managing Director and Head of SME Banking Syed Abdul Momen received the award at the prestigious Global SME Finance Awards 2025 on September 15 in Johannesburg, South Africa, according to a press release.

The bank, in collaboration with Water.org, has built a significant WASH portfolio, improving sanitation for more than 350,000 people and ensuring access to safe water for about 800,000 across the country, within the span of a year.

Managing Director and CEO of BRAC Bank Tareq Refat Ullah Khan said, "This honour reinforces our commitment to building a sustainable future through innovative SME financing. We will continue to invest in solutions that uplift communities and drive inclusive growth."

The Global SME Finance Awards are organised by the SME Finance Forum under the World Bank Group as an official event of the G20 Global Partnership for Financial Inclusion. It celebrates institutions delivering impactful and scalable SME solutions.

This recognition places BRAC Bank among the leading financial institutions across the region that are shaping the future of sustainable finance, reads the press statement. From hundreds of applications worldwide, 50 institutions were shortlisted among which three were from Bangladesh. BRAC Bank has proudly emerged as the winner for Asia, underscoring its leadership on the global stage.