National Bank has recovered Tk 900 crore in defaulted loans as of October, with plans to recover an additional Tk 400 crore by year-end, according to its chairman. The bank has faced challenges due to bad loans, irregularities, and governance issues since 2009. Recent losses include Tk 4,758 crore for 2022-2023 and Tk 698.68 crore in Q3 2024, a 40% rise from the previous year. Rising interest expenses and loan recovery failures have exacerbated the crisis, leading to a cash crunch that has frustrated customers. Bangladesh Bank has provided Tk 4,000 crore in liquidity support to stabilize operations.
Efforts are underway to rebuild confidence by balancing withdrawals and deposits within months. The board focuses on recovering laundered funds with support from the central and World Bank, alongside selling defaulter assets. Additionally, the bank is ensuring garment worker payments, offering letter of credit facilities, and fostering remittance inflows.