Commercial banks in Nepal witnessed a 6.18 percent decline in profit during the first two months of the current fiscal year (FY 2025/26) as business slowed and non-performing loans (NPLs) increased.
According to Nepal Rastra Bank (NRB), the 20 ‘A’ class banks collectively earned Rs 16.59 billion in net profit between mid-July and mid-September, down from Rs 17.69 billion during the same period last fiscal year.
Global IME Bank topped the profit chart with Rs 1.62 billion, followed by Nabil Bank with Rs 1.32 billion and Nepal Investment Mega Bank with Rs 1.26 billion. Likewise, Kumari Bank, Prime Commercial Bank, and NMB Bank also posted profits exceeding Rs 1 billion.
In terms of growth, NMB Bank recorded the highest profit increase of 32.14 percent, while Himalayan Bank suffered the steepest decline at 68.26 percent, followed by Nepal SBI Bank, which saw a 33.59 percent drop.
Meanwhile, Standard Chartered Bank Nepal announced a 19 percent cash dividend for its shareholders, as approved in its Board meeting on Friday, from the profits of FY 2024/25.
