Mashrur Arefin, Managing Director & CEO, City Bank

The Daily Star (TDS): What is the current level of women's engagement as employees and customers in the banking sector?

Mashrur Arefin (MA): Women's participation in Bangladesh's banking sector continues to rise, reflecting broader strides toward gender equality. At our bank, women constitute 18% of employees, with steady growth in leadership roles (3 out of 10 directors, and 11% of the senior management) driven by inclusive hiring, mentorship programs, and policies supporting work-life balance. As customers, women are increasingly shaping financial trends, particularly in entrepreneurship and SME sectors. Over 26% of our SME clients and 38% of the Agent Banking Customers are women, mobilizing loans and deposits across the country. These customers are pivotal to local economies, yet persistent gaps in financial literacy, collateral access, and large-scale credit eligibility hinder progress. To bridge these gaps, we prioritize tailored loan and deposit facilities, literacy drives, and partnerships to dismantle systemic barriers. We have a dedicated women's banking (City Alo) help desk across all branches, and 10% of our total agent outlet owners are female.

TDS: What special banking features or tailored services does your bank offer specifically for women?

MA: Our bank has designed targeted financial products to empower women economically. City Alo: Our Women Banking Proposition offers dedicated service hub, tailored financial products and offers business advisory support, literacy and capacity building training, and networking opportunities for women. We also offer:

a. Women Entrepreneurship Loans: with Lower interest rates, flexible repayment, and collateral-free options under government-backed refinancing schemes.

b. Digital Nano Loans: Instant, small-ticket loans via bKash, enabling rural women to address urgent financial needs.

c. Skill Development Programs: City Alo Certification programs and workshops on financial management, digital banking, and business scaling.

TDS: How can women's access to banking services be increased?

MA: Accelerating financial inclusion for women demands collaborative action. Financial literacy campaigns like grassroots workshops, mentorship networks, and community-led programs can demystify banking processes and credit systems. A hyperlocal outreach, by setting up women-only kiosks, collaborations with NGOs and local leaders can foster trust and awareness in underserved regions. To foster women SMEs, expanding and promoting credit guarantee schemes would ease collateral requirements and encourage banks to prioritize women-centric loan products. Finally, digital innovation is the way forward in the longer term, as Mobile banking and fin-tech solutions can simplify access, particularly in remote areas, by minimizing paperwork and branch dependency and bringing financial services at fingertips.