Global IME Bank Limited (GBIME) is a Class 'A' commercial bank licensed by Nepal Rastra Bank and the largest bank in the country by paid-up capital. It has grown mainly through acquisition, absorbing twenty-one banking and financial institutions since 2007, including five other commercial banks.
History and mergers
The bank was founded in January 2007 as Global Bank Limited. In 2012 it merged with IME Financial Institution Limited and Lord Buddha Finance Limited, and took the Global IME Bank name that reflects both parent businesses.
A long run of further mergers and acquisitions followed. Commerz and Trust Bank Nepal, Janata Bank Nepal, Lumbini Bank and Bank of Kathmandu were all folded into Global IME, alongside a series of development banks and finance companies. Twenty-one institutions in total have been absorbed, making it the most acquisitive bank in Nepal's consolidation era.
By the 2023/24 financial year the bank reported paid-up capital of about Rs 38.12 billion, the largest of any bank in Nepal. The promoter group holds around 51 percent of shares and the general public the rest, and the shares are listed on the Nepal Stock Exchange.
Services
- Deposit accounts: savings, current, fixed deposits, recurring savings, NRN and foreign currency accounts
- Retail loans: home loans, auto loans, education loans, gold loans and personal lending
- SME and business banking: working capital, term loans, hire purchase and business overdrafts
- Corporate banking, project and infrastructure finance and consortium lending
- Trade finance: letters of credit, bank guarantees and import and export services
- Remittance, supported by the IME money transfer network
- Cards: debit, credit and prepaid cards
- Digital banking: mobile banking, internet banking, QR payments and the Global Connect customer service centre
- Safe deposit lockers, bancassurance and merchant banking through its subsidiary
Branch network
Global IME operates roughly 440 service points across all seven provinces, one of the largest networks in Nepal, covering branches, extension counters and branchless banking outlets. Its head office is at Kamaladi in Kathmandu, and its coverage is particularly dense in the Kathmandu valley, Pokhara, Butwal, Birgunj, Biratnagar, Nepalgunj, Dhangadhi and the western hill districts where the IME remittance network has long operated.
Remittance and international banking
The bank's link to IME, one of Nepal's best-known remittance brands, gives it a large share of inward remittance traffic from the Gulf, Malaysia, Japan, Korea and the United Kingdom. International transactions run through SWIFT code GLBBNPKA, supported by correspondent banking relationships for trade settlement and foreign currency payments.
Recognition
Global Finance Magazine named Global IME Bank the Best Bank in Nepal in 2025, the second consecutive year it received the award.
At a glance
- Type: Class 'A' commercial bank
- Founded: January 2007, as Global Bank Limited
- Name change: Global IME Bank after the 2012 merger with IME Financial Institution and Lord Buddha Finance
- Institutions absorbed: 21, including Bank of Kathmandu, Janata Bank Nepal, Lumbini Bank and Commerz and Trust Bank
- Head office: Kamaladi, Kathmandu
- Service points: about 440
- Paid-up capital: about Rs 38.12 billion (FY 2023/24), the largest in Nepal
- SWIFT code: GLBBNPKA
- Phone: 01-5343891
- Website: globalimebank.com