Best bank 2025: Global IME Bank
Global IME Bank is Nepal’s best bank in recognition of its exceptional strides in outreach, financial performance, remittance handling, sustainability, innovation, digitisation and corporate social responsibility.
Global IME Bank boasts the largest banking network in Nepal, with a presence in all 77 districts through 354 branches, 383 ATMs and 237 branchless banking outlets. This extensive reach has played a critical role in enhancing financial inclusion across the nation. The bank also demonstrated robust financial growth during the review period, with its total deposits increasing to NR534 billion ($3.89 billion) and loans rising to NR431 billion by January 2025.
The bank has committed NR34 billion to green investments and NR93 billion to sustainable projects supporting initiatives for electric vehicles and renewable energy sources. It launched the Global Haat Bazaar to boost products from micro, small and medium-sized enterprises and introduced the digital loan service, Fast Loan Against Shares, enhancing client convenience and operational efficiency.
Its strides in the digital space were evident in the launch of the child-focused Global Junior app and the advanced, artificial intelligence-powered chatbot Global VIVA.
On the social front, the bank’s initiatives included health programmes aimed at women’s wellbeing across all provinces, and it also made significant contributions to environmental sustainability.
Finally, as a key player in Nepal’s remittance sector, Global IME Bank manages 15.65% of all remittances flowing into the country, facilitating over $10 million in daily inward remittances, which underscores its vital role in national financial stability.
Best digital bank 2025: Nepal Investment Mega Bank
Nepal Investment Mega Bank Limited (NIMB) has significantly advanced the digital banking landscape in Nepal, earning it the award for Nepal’s best digital bank. The bank’s strategic focus on digitalisation has led to the introduction of innovative solutions, including Nepal’s first Visa wearable sticker, NIMB Paywear. This product allows users to make secure contactless payments by attaching the sticker to personal items.
NIMB’s commitment to fostering digital adoption was demonstrated in its promotional campaign, which increased user engagement by refunding the NR1,000 ($7.28) wearable fee for customers who completed 12 point-of-sale (POS) transactions within three months of activation. Additionally, NIMB manages an extensive digital infrastructure consisting of 1.6 million cards, 272 branches, 266 ATMs, over 4,000 POS terminals, 66 branchless banking outlets and 65 revenue collection counters, ensuring comprehensive digital service accessibility across Nepal.
With a solid market position demonstrated by assets over NR533 billion and a market capitalisation of NR65.19 billion, NIMB’s digital initiatives solidify its role as the frontrunner in Nepal’s digital banking sector.
Best digital bank for SMEs 2025: Prabhu Bank
Prabhu Bank receives the award of Nepal’s best digital bank for small and medium-sized enterprises through its diverse range of digital financial initiatives catering explicitly to micro, small and medium-sized enterprises.
The bank successfully launched a web-based loan application platform subsequently integrated into the Digi Prabhu App, making it simpler for small business owners to apply for loans online. This initiative processed over a thousand loan applications worth NR3.2 billion ($23.3 million) across 62 districts and all seven provinces of Nepal.
Additionally, Prabhu Bank introduced the Prabhu Sana Byabasaya Karja, a specialised lending product offering flexible terms and competitive rates, in particular supporting women-led businesses. The Visa business debit card launched by the bank has enabled SMEs to manage expenses more efficiently, reducing cash dependence and providing real-time transaction tracking.
The bank has also played an essential role in promoting financial and digital literacy among SMEs, specifically focusing on rural sectors and women entrepreneurs, impacting over three million individuals through these programmes. This educational push is complemented by strategic partnerships with organisations including the United Nations Capital Development Fund, Swiss Contact Nepal and Symbiotics, enhancing digital financial services and promoting environmentally and socially responsible lending.
Prabhu Bank has made significant strides in supporting women entrepreneurs, notably through targeted savings products, playing a crucial role in creating direct and indirect employment opportunities in the SME sector.
Overall, with its deep engagement in digital innovations, specialized products and substantial community impact, Prabhu Bank not only supports the economic fabric of Nepal but also aligns its operations with multiple UN Sustainable Development Goals.
Best securities house 2025: Nepal Investment and Securities Trading
Nepal Investment and Securities Trading has demonstrated significant achievements in its operations, earning it the title of Nepal’s best securities house. The firm has capitalised on digital transformation and product innovation to enhance efficiency and client service. It has fully transitioned to online systems for payments and client know-your-customer submissions, noticeably speeding up investor onboarding. Additionally, it launched holiday counters to ensure uninterrupted service, particularly for institutional and high net-worth clients.
In its commitment to technology, the firm integrated artificial intelligence-powered investor support tools that provide real-time market insights, automated trading suggestions and predictive analytics. Plans are underway to further develop these platforms with sophisticated and customisable dashboards and advanced real-time analytics.
Nepal Investment and Securities Trading has also shown remarkable financial growth. The firm’s total assets increased by 83.5% and commission income grew by 41.3% in 2024. Net profit before tax rose by an impressive 457.4%, with earnings per share rising by 2,440%, indicative of incredibly robust shareholder value creation. This financial strength supports its strategic reduction in cash reserves that were redirected towards the firm’s modernisation efforts.
The firm has also played a pivotal role in boosting secondary market trading, which enhances liquidity and investor access to the Nepal Stock Exchange. This strategy supported record turnover volumes and a significant uptick in retail investor engagement. Additionally, the firm’s automated risk management tools were instrumental in mitigating over-leveraging and market distortions, further stabilising the financial landscape.
By facilitating access to listed fixed income securities, Nepal Investment and Securities Trading has also contributed to the emerging debt capital market in Nepal. This involved improving market accessibility and transparency, which is essential for the future growth and expansion of the DCM sector.
Lastly, while not directly involved in M&A advisory, the firm effectively supported market activities during corporate transitions in the banking and insurance sectors, ensuring seamless trading and price discovery that maintained market liquidity and investor access.
Best bank for corporate responsibility 2025: Himalayan Bank
Himalayan Bank Limited (HBL) is Nepal’s best bank for corporate responsibility because it on integrates its social responsibilities across all aspects of its operations. The bank’s comprehensive corporate social responsibility (CSR) initiatives are not only broad but impact oriented. Its activities are spread across seven key areas: community impact, education, health, disaster relief, environmental sustainability, cultural heritage and financial inclusion.
The bank’s diversified CSR programme has significantly impacted various sectors. In education and skill development it has improved infrastructure for remote schools and launched financial literacy programmes, which saw a 37.1% increase in participants reaching 2,671 individuals in 2023/24. In its efforts extend to healthcare, HBL funded vital infrastructure improvements and donated medical equipment to hospitals and rehabilitation centres.
In its commitment to environmental stewardship, HBL made notable contributions, including the removal of over 11,000kg of waste from the Everest region in 2024 through the Clean Himalaya Campaign. Also, it actively supported landslide protection and promoted ecotourism, emphasising climate resilience.
HBL’s disaster relief efforts were equally commendable, providing essential aid to earthquake and fire victims across multiple districts. The bank also stands out for its cultural support, having participated in restoring temples and traditional arts, helping to preserve Nepal’s rich heritage.
The governance of their CSR initiatives is robust, managed by the HBL CSR committee led by the chief executive, ensuring structured and effective implementation of the bank’s extensive programmes.
Best bank for sustainable finance 2025: Nabil Bank
Nabil Bank has firmly established itself as a frontrunner in sustainable finance in Nepal, aligning its financial products with sustainable and eco-friendly initiatives. With focused investments across various sectors, the bank has targeted NR57.5 billion ($418 million) in agriculture, NR44.6 billion in SME financing, and NR31.9 billion in hydropower by July 2025. Its commitment to the electric vehicle (EV) market is notable, aiming for NR8.1 billion in commercial EV financing, underscored by 179% year-on-year growth, which actively supports the transition to clean transportation and the reduction of greenhouse gas emissions.
In hydropower, Nabil Bank is enhancing Nepal’s energy security and promoting job creation through clean energy initiatives. Its sustainable housing loans advocate for eco-friendly construction practices that aim to reduce energy costs and carbon footprints. Additionally, the bank has introduced the Nabil Skilled Returnee Migrant Entrepreneurship loan, designed to assist returnee migrants by providing them necessary capital to start small businesses.
The bank also focuses on developing financing models for key agriculture sectors, such as poultry, fishery, dairy and cattle farming, ensuring project feasibility and long-term sustainability.
In the tourism sector, Nabil Bank committed NR11.2 billion to sustainable tourism loans in 2024, promoting projects that are both eco-friendly and community based. These targeted initiatives demonstrate Nabil Bank’s pivotal role in fostering sustainable development and financial inclusivity across Nepal.
