The average call money rate in Bangladesh has surged to 9.60%, marking the highest point in the last 12 years, due to recent policy rate hikes by the Bangladesh Bank. Banks borrowed Tk3,251 crore from the call money market on Sunday, resulting in the highest average rate since 2013.
The economic slowdown, challenges in loan collection, high inflation eroding consumer confidence, and increased funds due to policy rate hikes are cited as reasons for the interest rate hike. Banks, obligated to maintain the Cash Reserve Ratio against deposits, face higher borrowing costs, impacting their margins. The last record high in call money rates was in December 2010 at 33.54%.