Best bank: Nabil Bank
Nabil Bank has reinforced its leadership in Nepal through consistent execution across core banking, digital innovation and customer-led growth, supported by strong performance across retail, SME and corporate segments.
In 2025, the bank maintained one of the strongest earnings profiles in the market alongside continued expansion in both deposits and lending. Its diversified business model and longstanding client relationships underpin a leading position in corporate banking, particularly in financing large projects across energy, infrastructure and industry.
Digital transformation remains a key differentiator. The bank has rolled out enhanced onboarding systems, real-time account access and AI-enabled customer support, improving service efficiency and accessibility. Initiatives such as appointment-based banking and digital KYC have reduced turnaround times while improving the overall customer experience.
Nabil has also strengthened its SME franchise through targeted lending solutions and deeper client engagement. Products focused on entrepreneurs, including migrant and supply chain financing, are addressing access to capital while supporting business growth and employment.
Beyond commercial performance, the bank continues to expand its role in financial inclusion and social impact through financial literacy programmes, entrepreneurship initiatives and sustainability-linked products aligned with evolving customer expectations.
Best bank for ESG: Nabil Bank
Nabil Bank has established itself as a leader in sustainable finance in Nepal by embedding ESG principles across its strategy, risk framework and lending activities, aligned with national priorities and long-term climate objectives.
Its progress in 2025 is reflected in the expansion of its sustainable financing portfolio across sectors central to Nepal’s transition. The bank has directed significant capital towards renewable energy, agriculture and SMEs, while scaling financing for electric mobility and inclusive lending. Lending to hydropower and energy continued to grow, alongside sustained expansion in agricultural and SME portfolios, reinforcing its focus on both environmental sustainability and economic development.
A key strength is the breadth of its ESG-linked product suite. Nabil offers targeted financing across solar energy, electric vehicles, sustainable housing and agriculture value chains, enabling clients to adopt cleaner technologies and improve productivity. Its support for electric mobility has scaled meaningfully, with thousands of vehicles financed, while continued expansion in lending to women entrepreneurs and SMEs has strengthened financial inclusion.
The bank has also advanced its approach to climate strategy and measurement. It has adopted financed emissions reporting aligned with global frameworks and demonstrated measurable environmental impact through its renewable energy portfolio, including verified emissions reductions. This is supported by a long-term commitment to carbon neutrality and increasing alignment of lending with national decarbonisation pathways.
Best bank for SMEs: Nabil Bank
Nabil Bank’s SME proposition is designed around the practical obstacles facing smaller Nepali businesses: limited financial records, uneven access to collateral and a continued need for direct guidance. Its product range covers working capital, fixed investment, agriculture, exports, women-led companies and businesses established by returning migrant workers.
The bank has invested in making credit applications faster and more consistent. Its SME Highway routes applications through a dedicated loan origination process with reduced information requirements for eligible borrowers. Customers can also start an SME application online, providing business, security and existing borrowing information before engaging with the bank. Nabil’s Skilled Migrant Entrepreneurship Loan applies the same approach to Nepalis returning from overseas employment, offering a five-day approval target for qualifying applications.
The product range reflects specific areas of the Nepali economy. Nabil Nari Karja supports women-led businesses, while its commercial agriculture facility finances farming and livestock enterprises and provides an approval decision within seven working days once documentation is complete. Exporters can access letters of credit, guarantees, foreign exchange management and support for collecting government export incentives.
Financing is complemented by the Nabil School of Social Entrepreneurship, which provides free training and mentoring in partnership with academic institutions. Publicly reported results from the programme show that 80% of one group of trained entrepreneurs went on to establish enterprises, creating more than 1,100 jobs. By connecting faster credit processes with supply-chain finance, targeted products and entrepreneurial training, Nabil addresses both access to capital and the capabilities required to use it effectively.
