Standard Chartered Bank Nepal Limited (SCBNL) is the only international commercial bank operating in Nepal and a subsidiary of the London-headquartered Standard Chartered Group, which holds 70.21 percent of its shares. The remaining 29.79 percent is held by the Nepali public, and the bank is listed on the Nepal Stock Exchange. It has been in business since 30 January 1987.
History and ownership
The bank began as a joint venture operation in 1987 and came under the Standard Chartered name following the group's acquisition of Grindlays' South Asian business, making it part of a banking network that spans Asia, Africa and the Middle East.
Its international parentage shapes how it operates in Nepal: rather than competing on branch count, it runs a deliberately compact network focused on corporate clients, international institutions, embassies, development agencies and affluent retail customers. It has held an ICRANP-IR AAA issuer rating for several consecutive years, the highest domestic credit rating available in Nepal.
Business divisions
The bank organises its work into two divisions. Corporate and Investment Banking serves large corporates, financial institutions, development agencies and government-linked entities with transaction banking, trade finance, foreign exchange and lending. Wealth and Retail Banking covers personal and SME customers with deposits, loans, cards and wealth products.
Services
- Deposit accounts: savings, current, fixed deposits and foreign currency accounts
- Personal lending: home loans, personal loans and overdrafts
- Credit cards and debit cards with international acceptance
- Wealth management, investment advisory and bancassurance
- SME banking: working capital, business loans and trade services
- Corporate and institutional banking: cash management, custody, lending and syndication
- Trade finance: letters of credit, guarantees, and import and export services
- Foreign exchange and treasury services
- Digital banking through the SC Mobile app and online banking, plus banking APIs for corporate clients
Network
Standard Chartered Nepal operates 14 branches and four extension counters covering all seven provinces, supported by 23 ATMs and more than 480 staff. The head office is at New Baneshwor in Kathmandu, with other Kathmandu valley locations and branches in major cities including Pokhara, Biratnagar, Birgunj, Butwal, Nepalgunj and Dharan.
International banking
Being part of a global banking group gives the bank direct access to Standard Chartered's international network for cross-border payments, trade settlement and foreign currency services. International transactions run through SWIFT code SCBLNPKA. This connectivity is a large part of why international organisations, donor agencies and importers and exporters bank with it.
At a glance
- Type: Class 'A' commercial bank, subsidiary of an international banking group
- Established: 30 January 1987
- Ownership: Standard Chartered Group 70.21 percent, Nepali public 29.79 percent
- Head office: New Baneshwor, Kathmandu
- Branches: 14, plus four extension counters
- ATMs: 23
- Staff: more than 480
- Credit rating: ICRANP-IR AAA
- SWIFT code: SCBLNPKA
- Client care centre: +977-1-5971800 (24 hours)
- Email: clientcarecentre.nepal@sc.com
- Website: sc.com/np