Following the dissolution of its previous board on August 5, 2024, Social Islami Bank PLC, now led by an independent director and chairman, is undergoing significant reforms to address a liquidity crisis and restore stability. The Shariah-based lender has a total deposit of Tk 32,272.45 crore and investments of Tk 37,534.59 crore as of November 17, 2024. Loan exposure includes Tk 6,400 crore to the S Alam Group and Tk 2,000 crore to the Sikder Group. Despite recovering Tk 1,075 crore by October 2024, the bank faces challenges in reducing its high investment-to-deposit ratio of over 100%. A recent internal audit revealed loan irregularities, prompting plans for external audits to ensure transparency.
Reforms include sacking 579 excess employees hired under the previous board and launching a deposit mobilization campaign from November 3 to December 20, 2024. New strategies focus on low-cost deposits and SME lending to improve repayment rates and financial health.