Commercial Banks Disburse Over Rs. 4.40 Trillion in Loans and Advances by Baisakh End 2082

In the latest disclosure of lending distribution by Nepal’s commercial banks, private sector dominance continues to define the credit landscape. According to the recent data, most of the commercial banks have concentrated a significant portion of their loan portfolios in the private sector, with only minimal allocation towards financial institutions and government organizations.

Global IME Bank has emerged as the leading lender with a total loan and advance portfolio of Rs. 4,40,808.76 million. A major share—Rs. 4,21,379.33 million—was lent to the private sector alone. Following closely, NABIL Bank has reported Rs. 4,21,879.54 million in total loans, of which Rs. 4,06,698.70 million was directed toward the private sector. Similarly, NMB Bank extended Rs. 2,36,858.93 million in total loans, with Rs. 2,27,335.93 million allotted to private enterprises and individuals.

The pattern is consistent across the banking sector. For instance, Rastriya Banijya Bank (RBB) recorded a total lending of Rs. 2,95,303.91 million, out of which Rs. 2,81,912.64 million was for the private sector. Other major players like Himalayan Bank (Rs. 2,53,364.95 million total, Rs. 2,42,887.65 million private sector) and Kumari Bank (Rs. 2,93,835.23 million total, Rs. 2,82,164.84 million private sector) also displayed similar trends.

Loans to financial institutions were relatively modest but notable in some banks. Global IME Bank again led in this category with Rs. 18,625.53 million in inter-financial institution lending. NABIL, NMB, and Prime Bank followed with Rs. 15,180.84 million, Rs. 9,523.00 million, and Rs. 9,867.32 million, respectively. These funds typically support liquidity management, secondary market operations, and interbank transactions.

Government organization lending remained the least prioritized. Only a handful of banks such as Nepal Investment Mega Bank (NIMB), Global IME, and NMB reported notable figures under this head. NIMB lent Rs. 1,704.56 million to government entities—the highest among peers—while Global IME and NMB provided Rs. 803.89 million and Rs. 124.55 million, respectively. Most banks either reported zero lending or skipped this category altogether, reflecting a generally low engagement level with public-sector credit demand.

In summary, Nepal’s commercial banks continue to drive their loan expansion strategies through private sector lending, underlining the sector’s perceived profitability and growth potential. Financial institution lending remains secondary, while government organization financing is minimal across the board. This distribution also highlights the risk appetite and market trust banks place in the private sector as the engine of economic activity.