Empowering women for brighter futures

Mashrur Arefin
Managing Director and CEO, City Bank PLC

“Our focus has shifted to non-metro areas, where women-led enterprises are growing three times faster than in major cities. Through digital enablement and financial literacy, we are ensuring every woman can access the formal economy.

City Bank PLC is widely utilising it’s City Alo platform, successfully in order to dismantle the structural barriers while fostering digital literacy to ensure women remain central pillars of Bangladesh’s formal economy. In this interview with the Daily Star, Mashrur Arefin, the Managing Director and CEO of City Bank PLC opens up about how in this year’s International Women’s Day, the bank is promising a vital commitment to inclusive growth

The Daily Star (TDS): What led to the launch of City Alo?

Mashrur Arefin (MA): We launched City Alo in 2019 to address the persistent gap in women’s financial inclusion. While women represent half our population, structural barriers historically limited their participation. City Alo aligns with our strategy of inclusive growth and sustainable portfolio development.

TDS: How large is your current women’s portfolio?

MA: City Alo currently holds one-third of our retail deposits, approximately BDT 13,000 crore. In 2025, we disbursed BDT 2,500 crore in loans. Notably, female Nano loan disbursements reached BDT 791 crore, growing threefold from the previous year.

TDS: What does your female customer base look like?

MA: We serve 8.5 lakh active women customers. In 2025, their transaction volume grew 30% to BDT 66,000 crore. Additionally, 23% of Citytouch app users are female, highlighting a steady rise in digital adoption among women.

TDS: How has this segment grown recently?

MA: Growth is robust. Over the past three years, our female customer base increased by 49%, while retail loan disbursements rose by 82% and the deposit portfolio expanded by a staggering 107%.

TDS: How is the repayment performance of women borrowers?

MA: Women SME borrowers show exceptional discipline. Our women’s SME portfolio expanded sixfold in five years with an average annual growth of 55%. Most importantly, NPL ratios remain well below the overall SME average.

TDS: What trends are you seeing in women-led businesses?

MA: Beyond traditional commerce, women are entering manufacturing, healthcare, and ICT. Interestingly, non-metro growth is outpacing cities, expanding nearly three times faster than in major hubs like Dhaka and Chittagong over the last five years.

TDS: How are you addressing structural barriers?

MA: Limited decision-making power and collateral remain challenges. We tackle these through entrepreneurship certification, mentorship networks, and rural outreach like Uthan Boithok, ensuring women move beyond account acquisition toward sustained financial participation.

Interview conducted by Tagabun Taharim Titun