Bangladesh Bank plans to introduce an open banking system by June 2026, allowing customers to access services from multiple banks through third-party fintech platforms. Officials said the move aims to boost financial innovation, transparency, and faster access to credit.
A working committee will be formed in December 2025 to guide implementation and develop standardized application programming interface (API) protocols. The system will let customers, with their consent, securely share financial data with approved fintechs, enabling quicker loan approvals, real-time insights, and personalized financial solutions.
Sharafat Ullah Khan, director of the central bank’s Payments Systems Department, said open banking will be critical for expanding private credit bureaus, payment services, and digital banks.
Bangladesh is studying models from India and Singapore, which have adopted regulated, innovation-driven frameworks. Experts say existing systems such as the Interoperable Digital Transaction Platform and Bangla QR already connect banks and fintechs. However, they caution that strong data protection, cybersecurity, and customer consent mechanisms will be essential for success.