Complete List of Commercial Banks in Nepal (2026 Updated)

Nepal's banking landscape has changed dramatically over the last five years. Through a wave of mergers and acquisitions driven by Nepal Rastra Bank's (NRB) capital and consolidation policy, the number of "A Class" commercial banks has fallen from close to 30 to just 20 banks in 2026. If you're opening an account, applying for a loan, or simply trying to understand who's who in Nepal's financial system, this guide gives you the complete, up-to-date list — along with head offices, ownership type, and the merger history behind today's shorter list.

What Is an "A Class" Commercial Bank in Nepal?

Nepal Rastra Bank, the country's central bank, classifies all banks and financial institutions (BFIs) into four categories: Class "A" (commercial banks), Class "B" (development banks), Class "C" (finance companies), and Class "D" (microfinance institutions). Commercial banks sit at the top of this pyramid. They are full-service, nationally licensed institutions permitted to accept deposits, disburse all categories of loans, deal in foreign exchange, issue guarantees, and offer complete digital banking, remittance, and treasury services across the country.

To hold an "A Class" license, a bank must maintain a minimum paid-up capital of Rs 8 billion, meet Nepal Rastra Bank's capital adequacy and liquidity requirements, and comply with Basel III-aligned prudential norms. This capital bar — raised sharply from just Rs 2 billion a decade earlier — is the single biggest reason the sector has consolidated so quickly, since many mid-sized banks could not raise fresh capital independently and instead chose to merge.

Full List of the 20 Commercial Banks in Nepal (2026)

All 20 commercial banks are headquartered in Kathmandu and operate branch networks that reach nearly every district of the country. Below is the complete, NRB-licensed list along with each bank's head office location, year established, and ownership type.

Note: Branch counts and paid-up capital figures change frequently as banks expand and file quarterly results. For the latest branch count or SWIFT code of any specific bank, check the bank's official website or the NRB's published BFI list.

Recent Mergers & Acquisitions Timeline (2022–2026)

Nepal's 2022–2023 merger wave was the most transformative period in the country's banking history. Facing NRB's firm capital requirements, weaker institutions chose to merge with stronger partners rather than risk regulatory action. Here is exactly how the consolidation played out:

Two of these deals created entirely new brand names rather than simple absorptions: Nepal Investment Mega Bank (from the merger of Nepal Investment Bank and Mega Bank Nepal) and Laxmi Sunrise Bank (from the merger of Laxmi Bank and Sunrise Bank). Both remain among the more actively marketed brands in the sector today.

Why the Number Dropped From Nearly 30 to Just 20 Banks

Three forces drove this consolidation. First, capital requirements: NRB's 2015 directive requiring commercial banks to raise paid-up capital to Rs 8 billion (a fourfold jump for many banks) made standalone survival difficult for smaller players. Second, regulatory encouragement: NRB has openly favored fewer, larger, better-capitalized banks over a fragmented market of many small ones, arguing this improves systemic stability and supervision. Third, market efficiency: larger merged entities gain economies of scale in technology, risk management, and branch infrastructure, which smaller banks struggled to justify independently.

The result is a banking sector that is smaller in number but considerably larger in average size, with the top few banks — Nabil, Global IME, and Nepal Investment Mega Bank among them — now commanding paid-up capital well above Rs 30 billion each.

Government-Owned vs Private Commercial Banks

Of the 20 commercial banks, three remain under majority government ownership: Nepal Bank Limited (the country's oldest bank, established in 1937), Rastriya Banijya Bank (established 1966, wholly state-owned), and Agriculture Development Bank (established 1968, historically focused on agricultural credit). These government banks tend to run more conservative loan books and lower credit-to-deposit ratios than their private peers, but they also benefit from an extensive rural branch network built up over decades of state-directed expansion.

The remaining 17 are private or joint-venture banks. Some, like Standard Chartered Bank Nepal, retain significant foreign shareholding, while most others — Nabil, Global IME, NIC Asia, Kumari, and the rest — are Nepali-promoted public companies listed on the Nepal Stock Exchange (NEPSE).

How to Choose the Right Bank From This List

With 20 broadly similar options, the right choice depends on what you need most:

• Best branch/ATM reach outside Kathmandu: Rastriya Banijya Bank, Agriculture Development Bank, and Global IME Bank operate some of the largest branch networks nationwide.
• Best digital banking experience: Nabil, NIC Asia, and Global IME are frequently cited for strong mobile-app ecosystems.
• Best for remittance-heavy accounts: Nepal SBI Bank and NIC Asia have deep tie-ups with Indian and Gulf remittance corridors.
• Best for international/corporate banking: Standard Chartered Bank Nepal and Nepal SBI Bank, given their foreign parent networks.
• Best perceived stability: Government banks and the largest private banks by capital (Nabil, Global IME, Nepal Investment Mega Bank) tend to be viewed as lower-risk by depositors.

We cover this decision in much more depth — including savings, fixed deposit, and loan comparisons — in our companion guide on how to choose the best bank in Nepal in 2026.

Frequently Asked Questions

Which is the oldest commercial bank in Nepal?

Nepal Bank Limited, established in 1937, is the oldest commercial bank in the country. Nabil Bank, founded in 1984, was the first private-sector and first foreign joint-venture bank.

Which bank has the most branches in Nepal?

Among banks with publicly available branch data, Rastriya Banijya Bank and Prabhu Bank operate some of the largest networks, each with several hundred branches nationwide. Branch counts change often as banks expand, so always confirm the current number on the bank's official website.

How many commercial banks are there in Nepal in 2026?

There are 20 "A Class" commercial banks licensed by Nepal Rastra Bank as of 2026, down from a peak of around 30-32 in the mid-2010s.

Are all commercial banks in Nepal regulated the same way?

Yes. All 20 banks are supervised by Nepal Rastra Bank under the same Bank and Financial Institutions Act (BAFIA) framework, meaning deposit safety, capital adequacy norms, and reporting requirements apply uniformly, regardless of whether the bank is government-owned or private.

Will more mergers happen after 2026?

Analysts widely expect continued consolidation, though at a slower pace than 2022–2023, as NRB continues to nudge smaller and mid-sized banks toward further mergers to strengthen capital buffers.