In Dhaka, men hold the majority of deposit accounts at 52%, while women have 46.55%, but the scenario reverses in regions outside Dhaka.

Women in Barishal, Chattogram, Khulna, Mymensingh, Rajshahi, Rangpur, and Sylhet have more deposit accounts than men in these areas, according to data from Bangladesh Bank’s Agent Banking Statistics Division.

As of July this year, female deposit account holders reached 9,995,969, 1.52% more than their male counterparts. Total male and other deposit accounts were 9,846,128 and 302,436, respectively.

In Dhaka, the proportion of male deposit account holders stands at 52%, 5.45% higher than females. Dhaka division counts 2,461,993 male deposit account holders and 2,204,568 female account holders.

Central bank data emphasizes that agent banking fills the gap in traditional banking facilities for rural and underprivileged people.

As of July, there were 15,574 agents and 21,399 outlets. Rural agents numbered 13,156, 5.4 times more than urban agents. 

Rural outlets reached 18,401, 6.1 times more than urban outlets, indicating extensive rural coverage through agent banking, according to Bangladesh Bank.

Dhaka division leads with 5,307 outlets, constituting 25% of the total. Mymensingh has the fewest outlets at 1,228, representing 6% of the total.

The majority of the 5,400 agent banking outlets are in rural areas, with 65%  of the 6 million agent bank account holders being women. The distribution of government allowances through agent banking accounts contributes to this trend.

Private commercial banks dominate the percentage of agents and outlets, with 70% of agents and 77% of outlets. Islamic banks have 25% of agents, while state-owned banks hold 5% of agents and 4% of outlets, as per BB data.