Commercial banks in Bangladesh are increasingly depositing surplus funds in the central bank’s Standing Deposit Facility (SDF), despite its lower yield of 8.50%, compared to the 11.49% offered by 90-day Bangladesh Bank (BB) bills. Banks deposited Tk 176.92 billion in the SDF by December 23, averaging over Tk 11 billion daily, while BB bills attracted just Tk 27 billion across six auctions.
The preference for SDF is driven by its overnight maturity, tax exemptions, and liquidity flexibility, unlike BB bills, which impose a 20% tax and block funds for three months. The liquidity crunch faced by many banks further amplifies reliance on the more accessible SDF.