List of Development Banks in Nepal 2026 (Updated List & Branches)

As of early 2026, Nepal Rastra Bank (NRB) has licensed 17 Class "B" development banks, down sharply from the more than 80 institutions that existed a decade ago. This dramatic consolidation is the result of rising minimum capital requirements and a wave of mergers that reshaped Nepal's development banking landscape. Below is an updated, easy-to-scan list of every currently licensed development bank, along with practical guidance on how to verify a bank's status before you open an account.

Full List of Development Banks in Nepal

The table below lists all 17 development banks currently licensed by NRB, their head office location, and their operating level. Branch counts and paid-up capital figures change frequently as banks expand and raise capital, so treat the figures here as approximate and always cross-check the latest numbers on NRB's official website or the bank's own site before making a financial decision.

Branch counts are approximate and change as banks expand. NEPSE tickers and exact paid-up capital figures are best confirmed on the Nepal Stock Exchange (nepalstock.com.np) and NRB's published BFI list, since both update every fiscal quarter.

National-Level vs Regional Development Banks

Eight development banks currently operate at the national level, meaning they can open branches anywhere in Nepal, similar in reach to commercial banks. The remaining institutions are licensed regionally, with historically strong roots in specific provinces — for example, Shine Resunga Development Bank in Butwal or Excel Development Bank in Jhapa. Regional banks tend to have deeper relationships with local agriculture, trade, and hydropower-linked businesses in their home province, even as several have started expanding their branch network beyond their original district.

Recently Merged or Rebranded Entities

Several names in Nepal's banking history no longer exist as independent development banks because they were absorbed into larger institutions during the capital-driven consolidation of the past decade. If you hold an old passbook, FD certificate, or shares from a development bank that no longer appears on the current NRB list, it likely means the institution merged into one of the banks listed above or was upgraded to commercial bank status. Your account, deposit, or shareholding would have automatically transferred to the surviving entity under NRB's merger bylaws — always confirm with the surviving bank's customer service if you are unsure.

How to Verify a Bank's License Status on NRB's Website

Before opening an account, placing a fixed deposit, or applying for a loan, it is worth taking two minutes to confirm the institution is currently licensed and in good standing:

• Visit the official Nepal Rastra Bank website (nrb.org.np) and look for the "Bank and Financial Institutions Regulation" section, which publishes an updated list of licensed BFIs every fiscal quarter.
• Cross-check the bank's name spelling exactly, since some institutions have very similar names after mergers and rebranding.
• Check NRB's list of "Problem Banks" or any public notices, if available, before committing large deposits.
• For listed entities, verify the NEPSE ticker and trading status on the Nepal Stock Exchange website.

Regional Presence: Agriculture and Hydropower-Focused Banks

A few development banks have built a reputation around specific sectors tied to their home region. Banks headquartered outside the Kathmandu Valley, such as Shine Resunga Development Bank in Butwal, often carry stronger relationships with agricultural cooperatives, small hydropower developers, and local trading businesses in their operating province. If you are a business owner in agriculture, hydropower, or SME manufacturing outside Kathmandu, a regional development bank with local presence may sometimes offer faster loan processing and more localized relationship banking than a national commercial bank branch.

In upcoming posts, we will review individual development banks in more depth, covering their digital banking features, FD rates, and loan products in detail — so check back for bank-specific reviews linked from this page.