Nagad has surrendered its non-bank monetary establishment (NBFI) licence as most of its shareholders are for it to change into a digital financial institution, stated Tanvir A Mishuk, managing director of the cell monetary service (MFS) supplier, yesterday. 

For this goal, an entity named “Nagad Digital Financial institution PLC” will apply to Bangladesh Financial institution quickly. “We’ll take the license of MFS after getting the licence of digital financial institution,” he stated.

Since its inception, Nagad has been providing MFS with an “interim” approval to function as a service beneath Bangladesh Put up Workplace.

Nagad introduces itself because the “digital monetary service of Bangladesh Put up Workplace” though the submit workplace doesn’t have any possession of Nagad and solely will get a share of Nagad’s income.

The central financial institution gave the letter of intent to Nagad Finance on August 30. On January 12 this yr, Bangladesh Financial institution determined in precept to permit Nagad Finance to run MFS, the primary such approval granted to any NBFI within the nation.

Requested how Nagad was so certain of getting an MFS licence as a digital financial institution regardless that it has not even utilized for it, Muhammad Zahidul Islam, head of public communications, stated the federal government was shifting quick in the direction of offering digital financial institution licences.

“It is going to be comprehensible very quickly (whether or not Nagad will get a digital financial institution licence). If not, there’s additionally an choice to get MFS licence by way of a authorities company…Nagad can get licence by way of submit workplace,” he added.

“We had utilized for NBFI (licence) as a result of there was no guideline for digital banks at the moment…making a revenue (as an NBFI) will probably be very troublesome as return on funding could be very low,” stated Mishuk.

He stated they had been trying to introduce mortgage merchandise for small and medium enterprises (SMEs) that face challenges in accessing finance.

“Many SMEs in Bangladesh want working capital for a day or two however they must take that mortgage from mortgage sharks paying excessive curiosity. So, we need to introduce versatile and appropriate mortgage merchandise for them,” he stated.

A financial savings choice may even be launched in Nagad Digital Financial institution together with insurance coverage merchandise, stated Mishuk.

“Nagad desires to make sure monetary inclusion by 2025. It is going to be potential to do that if the digital financial institution is fashioned,” he advised reporters at his workplace.

Most of Nagad’s shareholders will be part of the digital financial institution initiative, he stated, including that Nagad’s present shareholder Summit Group additionally expressed curiosity to change into concerned with Nagad Digital Financial institution.

Through the dialog, Mishuk highlighted how Nagad being lately recognised because the fastest-growing “unicorn” would pave the best way for drawing extra international funding in Bangladesh.

He stated Nagad at the moment has over 8 crore prospects availing each day transactions of Tk 1,000 crore alongside 2.5 lakh brokers or entrepreneur factors throughout the nation.

“We’ll use this community for the sooner enlargement of the digital financial institution if we get approval,” he added.