As the largest private commercial bank in Bangladesh, Pubali Bank PLC has long earned the trust and confidence of the nation through its dedication, commitment and quality service. The foundation of this success lies in the professionalism, integrity and competence of its human resources, whose relentless efforts continue to drive the Bank's growth and transformation.
Despite a challenging global and domestic economic environment, Pubali Bank PLC. continued its strong growth trajectory in 2025, achieving notable progress through robust financial performance, sound asset quality, technology-driven innovation and a steadfast commitment to financial inclusion, says a press statement.
Speaking at the recently held 43rd Annual General Meeting (AGM), Managing Director & CEO Mohammad Ali outlined the Bank's financial achievements, strategic priorities and future direction.
At the outset of his address, he said, "Over the past three years, Pubali Bank has not only achieved significant business growth but has also created substantial value for its shareholders. While the Bank's share price ranged between Tk 16 and Tk 20 in 2022, it has now risen to over Tk 37. At the same time, through successive stock dividends, the Bank's paid-up capital increased by approximately 56 per cent from around Tk 10 billion to Tk 15.6 billion, while shareholders' holdings also grew significantly. As a result, the market value of a long-term investor's investment has increased by more than threefold compared to 2022 -- an achievement that underscores the Bank's financial strength, sound governance, market confidence and sustainable growth."
He expressed his gratitude to the Bank's valued shareholders, customers, employees, business partners, members of the media and the Board of Directors for their continued support and guidance. He noted that despite global and domestic economic challenges, Pubali Bank has continued to create value for its shareholders through sound governance, prudent risk management and customer-centric innovation.
Mohammad Ali stated that rather than viewing economic headwinds as obstacles, Pubali Bank embraced them as an opportunity for transformation. Centered on technology, digital banking and financial inclusion, the Bank has undertaken a long-term modernization journey aimed at redefining customer experience and expanding access to financial services.
By integrating its traditional branch-based banking strengths with modern digital platforms, Pubali Bank is building a robust "Phygital Banking Ecosystem" that enables customers to access banking services securely, conveniently and through their preferred channels.
At the heart of this transformation is the PI Digital Platform, which reached 528,276 active users by the end of 2025. A total of 18.6 million transactions were completed through the platform during the year. Active users increased by 78 per cent year-on-year, while transaction volume grew by 115 per cent, reflecting the rapid adoption of digital banking solutions by customers.
The Bank also achieved significant progress in expanding its digital payment infrastructure. In 2025, the number of Merchant POS terminals reached 25,525, while more than 145,000 Bangla QR codes were deployed nationwide, making cashless transactions more accessible, secure and convenient for businesses and consumers alike.
Pubali Bank's extensive nationwide network remains a key pillar of this transformation. By the end of 2025, the Bank operated 517 branches, 274 sub-branches, 22 Islamic Banking Windows and 901 ATM/CRM booths. The introduction of Self-Service Banking facilities and digital onboarding services has enhanced customer convenience while improving operational efficiency.
The Bank also maintained strong financial fundamentals throughout the year. Total assets increased by 20.25 per cent to over Tk 1.18 trillion, while deposits reached Tk 895.1949 billion and loans and advances rose to about Tk 711.41 billion. Consolidated operating profit climbed to Tk 29.08 billion and profit after tax reached about Tk 10.80 billion.
Shareholder value creation also remained a key success area. Earnings Per Share (EPS) stood at Tk 8.30, Return on Equity (ROE) reached 15.51 per cent and Return on Assets (ROA) stood at 1.00 per cent. Meanwhile, the Capital to Risk-Weighted Assets Ratio (CRAR) remained strong at 15.34 per cent, well above the regulatory requirement, demonstrating the Bank's resilience and capital strength.
In terms of asset quality, Pubali Bank continued to outperform the industry. At the end of 2025, the Bank's Non-Performing Loan (NPL) ratio stood at only 2.20 per cent. This achievement reflects the effectiveness of the Bank's data-driven monitoring, prudent lending practices and strong recovery mechanisms.
Pubali Bank also continued to play a significant role in Bangladesh's foreign trade and remittance sectors. During 2025, export business handled by the Bank reached Tk 386.64 billion, import business stood at about Tk 473.14 billion and inward foreign remittance increased to Tk 113.62 billion, demonstrating customer confidence and the strength of the Bank's nationwide network.
Alongside technology-driven banking, the Bank remains committed to ESG and sustainable development initiatives. By the end of 2025, nearly 30 percent of its total loan and advance portfolio was classified as Sustainable Finance. The Bank expanded solar power usage across 411 branches and 453 ATM/CRM booths, financed 37 LEED-certified factories, adopted IFRS S1 and IFRS S2 standards and implemented a Decarbonization Policy aligned with its Net-Zero 2050 vision.
Looking ahead, Mohammad Ali stated that under its Strategic Plan 2026-2028, Pubali Bank is actively pursuing a technology-driven, inclusive and sustainable banking model. A year-long Cashless Banking Campaign is planned for 2026 to accelerate digital transactions across the retail, healthcare, education, corporate and CMSME sectors.
He further emphasized that a large segment of Bangladesh's population still remains outside the formal financial system. Through the integration of its branch network, sub-branches, self-service points, PI App and Bangla QR infrastructure, Pubali Bank aims to advance its "Banking the Unbanked" vision and bring more people into the formal financial ecosystem.
In his concluding remarks, Mohammad Ali underscored that the future belongs to technology-driven, secure, inclusive and responsible banking. He reaffirmed Pubali Bank's commitment to building on its strong legacy, governance standards and customer-centric approach to drive sustainable growth, support national economic development and create enduring value for shareholders.
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