The Daily Bonik Barta selects the country’s best bank from among those listed on the domestic stock market, using a range of indicators. The ranking has been published since 2013, and this year’s edition — the thirteenth — was compiled on the basis of audited and published financial statements for 2025.

BRAC Bank PLC took the top spot among the 31 listed banks, with the highest score of 50.74 out of a possible 70 across seven fundamental indicators. City Bank and Prime Bank placed second and third, with scores of 44 and 41.29, respectively.

All three private-sector banks held the same positions in the 2024 ranking, though BRAC and Prime improved their scores this time while City’s slipped slightly.

Pubali Bank PLC scored 41.04, earning fourth place for the first time. Dutch-Bangla Bank came fifth with 39.49, up from sixth in the 2024 ranking.

Eastern Bank PLC fell two places, from fourth last year to sixth, though its score remained virtually unchanged at around 37. Pubali and Dutch-Bangla moved ahead on the strength of better 2025 performances.

The rest of the top ten were Jamuna (seventh), Uttara (eighth), NCC (ninth) and Shahjalal Islami Bank (tenth). Jamuna was 12th in 2024, while Uttara improved its score but slipped one place in the ranking. NCC, 11th last year, advanced on both counts, and Shahjalal Islami Bank rose from 15th.

National Bank PLC finished bottom, in 31st place, with a score of 0.93 out of 70. The first-generation private bank was followed by AB Bank in 30th, with IFIC Bank, ICB Islamic Bank, Premier Bank, Rupali Bank and Islami Bank Bangladesh making up the rest of the bottom seven. All seven have at various times been subject to political or oligarchic interference and irregularities.

Economist and researcher Dr Mustafa K Mujeri has been tracking Bonik Barta’s Top Banks rankings for the past 12 years. He says several methods exist worldwide for picking the best bank and that the one Bonik Barta has been using is “universally recognised”.

He added: “We see that despite a severe governance deficit in the banking sector, and despite irregularities and corruption, the banks that tried to do well are ahead in the ranking. And the banks that saw political interference, irregularities, corruption and looting in the past have sunk to the very bottom. That’s what should happen in reality.”

Dr Mujeri, a former director-general of the Bangladesh Institute of Development Studies (BIDS) and a former chief economist of Bangladesh Bank, said some banks were earning substantial profits while also keeping bad loans in check. Investment in government treasury bills and bonds had been a blessing in that respect, since yields are high and the investment is entirely safe, he said.

The economist warned that the practice has left banks reluctant to lend to the private sector, adding that it cannot continue in the long term because without growth in private-sector credit, GDP growth will not rise and jobs will not be created.

Thirty-six banks are now listed on the domestic stock market. As last time, 31 were considered in compiling this year’s ranking. Exim Bank, which is being merged into Sammilito Islami Bank, was left out along with First Security Islami Bank, Global Islami Bank, Social Islami Bank and Union Bank.

As in previous years, the latest ranking was compiled with support from several corporate research teams, with LankaBangla Securities PLC playing a key role.

Banks around the world are assessed against a set of standard criteria used to gauge their capacity, performance and true condition. These are return on assets (ROA), return on equity (ROE), the non-performing loan (NPL) ratio, post-tax net profit, net asset value per share (NAVPS), the capital adequacy ratio (CAR) and operating profit per branch (OPB).

The banking sector in Bangladesh has changed markedly over the past few years. Banks with sound governance and a strong financial base have steadily grown larger, while others that were once strong have been undermined by irregularities and weak governance. Digital technology has changed what branch banking means: rather than opening new branches, many banks are using technology to extend their reach.

To keep pace with these shifts, Bonik Barta has adjusted both its indicators and its top thresholds in this year’s ranking. Operating profit per branch no longer counts for 2025. The provision coverage ratio (PCR) has been added in its place. The threshold for post-tax net profit, meanwhile, has been raised from BDT 10 billion to BDT 20 billion.

Thresholds now stand at 5 percent for ROA, 30 percent for ROE, 1 percent for NPLs, 20 percent for CAR, BDT 100 for NAVPS and 100 percent for PCR. Each indicator carries a maximum score of 10, giving a total of 70 across the seven.

A separate ranking, compiled on five indicators and excluding net profit and NAVPS, carries a total score of 50.

On that five-indicator measure this year, the top five are BRAC, City, Prime, Jamuna and Pubali, with scores of 34.24, 33.31, 32.75, 31.51 and 30.16, respectively. Eastern, NCC, Dutch-Bangla, Uttara and Shahjalal Islami Bank complete the top ten.

BRAC Bank climbed to second place in the 2022 ranking after three consecutive years of decline, then took the top spot in 2024. It again leads both rankings, scoring 50.74 on seven indicators and 34.24 on five.

Within the seven-indicator ranking, BRAC Bank placed first in CAR, net profit, NAVPS and provision coverage. It was second in ROA, third in NPLs and fifth in ROE. The bank made a record net profit of BDT 22.5 billion in 2025, and its combination of large profits and control over bad loans put it ahead of every other bank.

Tareq Refat Ullah Khan, managing director and chief executive of BRAC Bank PLC, called a second consecutive year as the country’s best bank a matter of pride and prestige.

“We made a record profit last year, and at the same time kept the default loan ratio at its lowest,” he told Bonik Barta. “Every one of our indicators has therefore strengthened. BRAC Bank’s ROE and ROA are in line with the profitability of global banks, and our capital adequacy ratio is the highest of any bank in the country.”

Khan added that he was hopeful the run would continue. “BRAC Bank has reached its current height by adhering to the highest standards of governance, transparency and compliance. The default loan ratio has fallen further this year and our subsidiaries are performing well. I expect BRAC Bank to sustain its best performance again this year.”

City Bank again held second place on both the 70-point and 50-point scales. It scored 44 on the seven indicators and 33.31 on the five. Among the seven, the bank took top marks for ROE and provision coverage, placed second for net profit, third for ROA and fourth for its NPL ratio, but lagged on NAVPS (fifth) and CAR (eighth).

Its run has been overseen by managing director and chief executive Mashrur Arefin, who has led the bank’s management for seven years in a row.

He said: “It’s a pleasure to be placed second in Bonik Barta’s list of best banks two years running. This recognition should not be read solely as an assessment of profit or the size of the business. We were at the very top of Bangladesh Bank’s Sustainability Rating 2024, and we have been among its top ten sustainable banks for five consecutive years. The foundation of our growth rests on good governance and responsible banking.”

Net profit at City Bank grew 31 percent in 2025, Arefin said. “Last year we made a record BDT 27.28 billion in operating profit and BDT 13.24 billion in net profit. Over the same period the default loan ratio came down from 3.7 percent to 2.5 percent, provision coverage ratio rose to 128 percent and our cost-to-income ratio fell to 44 percent. We also handled $8.1 billion in trade business, the highest of any local bank. I hope that if loan growth picks up across the board, we will do even better. To me, being the best bank is not only about performing well today; it is about building the capacity to absorb tomorrow’s risks. That is what we are doing.”

Prime Bank held third place, as in the previous ranking, scoring 41.29 on the seven indicators and 32.75 on the five. It took top marks for provision coverage, having set aside the full amount required, and placed second for CAR, third for ROE and fourth for ROA. It was fifth for both the lowest default loan ratio and the highest net profit, but sixth for NAVPS.

Faisal Rahman, the bank’s chief executive, said: “Third place in Bonik Barta’s ranking is a matter of great joy and pride for us. For us this is not just a ranking; it is a responsibility and an incentive to do better. The recognition reflects the combined effort, dedication and sense of duty of our board and every one of our colleagues. It is also an acknowledgement of our customers’ trust. We believe that on a foundation of trust, discipline and innovation, Prime Bank will contribute even more in future.”

The bank had always attached the highest importance to sustainable growth, strong capital, good governance, prudent risk management and better customer service, he added. “Through technology-driven banking, gains in operational efficiency along with innovative products and services matched to changing customer demand, we are working to build a stronger bank that is ready for the future.”

Pubali Bank has improved steadily in the ranking, taking fourth place this time, up from fifth in 2024. Though a first-generation bank, it has set the country’s leading example in controlling default loans and now tops the table on the lowest NPL ratio. That ratio stood at just 2.20 percent at the end of 2025, the lowest among listed banks in the country. Pubali also took top marks for meeting its provisioning requirements in full, and placed third for net profit and NAVPS. It trails on ROA and CAR, ranking ninth in both, and seventh for ROE.

Managing Director Mohammad Ali attributed securing fourth place to consistent growth and good governance. “Over the past three or four years we’ve achieved high growth in every indicator, and that has been possible because of our customers’ confidence and trust,” he said. “We’ve given the highest priority to governance and compliance in running the bank. We are now reaping the rewards of that work.”

Pubali is a very old bank that was once state-owned, he added, and its asset base is large. “Comparing our ROE and ROA with those of newer, smaller banks doesn’t give a true picture. We’ve always practised customer-friendly banking, and our interest rates are relatively low. Given how old the bank is, topping the table on the lowest default loan ratio is a particular source of pride. Bonik Barta’s recognition has added to our responsibilities. We want to move to an even higher position in future by expanding technology-driven services, improving the quality of customer service and further strengthening the bank’s financial base.”

Dutch-Bangla Bank was sixth on the 70-point scale in 2024 but has now moved up a place to fifth. NAVPS and CAR are its strengths, ranking second and third respectively, and it placed fourth for net profit. Its position on default loans, however, was 14th. It took full marks for provisioning, but came sixth for ROA and ninth for ROE.

Eastern Bank led the seven-indicator ranking in 2021 and 2022, and has slipped since. Fourth in 2024, it has fallen a further two places in the 2025 edition. Provisioning was the only indicator on which it took top marks; it ranked second on the lowest default loan ratio, sixth for net profit and ROE, eighth for ROA, ninth for NAVPS and 11th for CAR.

Jamuna Bank made notable gains, taking seventh place on the 70-point scale with a score of 37.04 and fourth on the 50-point scale. It earned a full 10 for provision coverage and placed second for ROE, and fifth for both ROA and CAR. It lagged on net profit (eighth), default loans (eighth) and NAVPS (12th).

Mirza Elias Uddin Ahmed, the bank’s managing director and chief executive, said: “A bank is an institution that stands on trust. The confidence and interests of depositors are therefore our highest priority. We wanted Jamuna Bank never to find itself short of liquidity, and in pursuing that we were extremely cautious about investment and lending. We made sure that no bad investment ever went through our hands. Compliance in every area and sound risk management have brought the bank to this proud position.”

Uttara Bank scored 34.16 on the seven indicators to take eighth place, and stood ninth on the five indicators. It led the table on ROA and was fourth for ROE and CAR, but trailed on net profit (seventh), NAVPS (eighth), default loans (12th) and provision coverage (16th).

NCC Bank improved its standing, taking ninth place on the seven indicators and seventh on the five, against 11th and ninth in 2024. It earned full marks for provision coverage and placed seventh for CAR and ROA, eighth for ROE, and ninth for net profit and default loans. NAVPS was its weakest indicator, at 14th.

Managing Director M Shamsul Arefin said the bank had been on a path of steady growth and prosperity for several years. “We run the bank in line with compliance and good governance, and that has kept our default loans in check. Our default loans fell last year compared with 2024.”

Shahjalal Islami Bank climbed five places to tenth on both scales, having stood 15th in 2024. It ranked tenth for ROA and ROE and 11th for default loans and net profit, but trailed on CAR, NAVPS and provision coverage.

Mosleh Uddin Ahmed, the bank’s managing director, said he was pleased to have made the top ten. “We have had to travel a long way to reach where we are today. Though we are mid-sized, Shahjalal is among the top three or four banks in the country in trade finance, and we stand second on the highest export volumes. The best thing about this bank is its board. No chairman holds sole authority or leadership here; the whole board decides on any matter concerning the bank. That’s why it is moving forward on the path of prosperity.”

Bank Asia slipped from tenth in 2024 to 11th on the seven indicators this time, with a score of 29.73, and stood 12th on the five. It took full marks for provision coverage and was ahead on CAR and net profit, but fell behind on the default loan ratio, ROA, ROE and NAVPS.

Mutual Trust Bank dropped from ninth to 12th on the seven indicators with a score of 28.48 and stood 14th on the five. MTB earned full marks for provision coverage, placed 11th for NAVPS and 12th for net profit, but lagged somewhat on CAR, ROA, ROE and the default loan ratio.

Dhaka Bank took 13th place on the seven indicators and 13th again on the five. Its score of 28.48 matches MTB’s, but it stands one place lower because it trails on four indicators. Full marks for provision coverage and seventh place on default loans were offset by weaker showings on the remaining five.

Trust Bank, eighth on the seven and fifth on the five in 2024, fell to 14th and 15th respectively, with a seven-indicator score of 28.07. It ranked tenth for NAVPS and default loans but trailed on the other five.

Midland Bank placed 15th on the seven indicators and 11th on the five. Full marks for provisioning and sixth place on both CAR and the default loan ratio were undercut by weaker positions on ROE, ROA, net profit and NAVPS.

Southeast Bank stood 16th on both the 70-point and 50-point scales, ranking 14th for net profit and CAR while trailing on the other five.

Mercantile Bank came 17th on the seven and 18th on the five. It placed 17th for ROE, NAVPS, net profit and default loans, 18th for ROA and CAR, and 21st for provision coverage.

NRB Bank, a fourth-generation lender, was 18th with 14.08 points out of 70, ranking 17th for provision coverage and behind on the other six.

One Bank took 19th place on both scales, 19th for provision coverage and behind on the remaining six.

Al-Arafah Islami Bank was 20th on the seven indicators, placing 18th for net profit and 19th for ROA and ROE, but trailing on NAVPS, default loans, CAR and provisioning.

Standard Bank occupied 21st place, 17th for ROA and 18th for ROE, with the other five indicators weaker.

NRB Commercial Bank took 22nd place on the seven indicators, ranking 20th for CAR and provision coverage and trailing on the other five.

SBAC Bank was 23rd in the 2025 ranking. It ranked 16th for capital adequacy but lagged on every other indicator.

United Commercial Bank (UCB) stood 24th on both the seven and the five, placing 16th for NAVPS and 18th on the default loan ratio while trailing on provision coverage, net profit, CAR, ROA and ROE.

Islami Bank Bangladesh, the country’s largest bank by assets and liabilities, was 25th on both scales. It took fourth place for NAVPS but fell behind on the rest.

Rupali, the only state-owned bank listed on the stock market, was 26th on the seven indicators, placing seventh for NAVPS and trailing on the other six. Premier Bank took 27th place on both scales, with every indicator at 25th or lower.

ICB Islamic Bank, which finished bottom last year, rose to 28th on the seven indicators, ranking 18th for provision coverage. IFIC, AB and National Bank, behind on every indicator, placed 29th, 30th and 31st, respectively.