State-owned Sonali Bank PLC reported a record operating profit of Tk 8,017.36 crore in 2025, reflecting a sharp turnaround driven by higher income, improved governance, and lower loan defaults.
The operating profit rose by Tk 2,322.80 crore from Tk 5,694.55 crore a year earlier, Managing Director and CEO Md Shawkat Ali Khan said during a press briefing at the bank’s Motijheel head office on Tuesday.
After provisioning, Sonali Bank expects its net profit to exceed Tk 1,500 crore. Khan described the single-year jump in earnings as a “major achievement” for the country’s largest state-owned lender.
For the first time in years, the bank no longer faces a capital shortfall. Its Capital to Risk-Weighted Assets Ratio (CRAR) has surpassed the regulatory minimum of 10 percent, marking what Khan termed a “massive victory” in restoring financial stability.
The bank has also made significant progress in reducing non-performing loans (NPLs), which stood at 15.4 percent as of December 25, 2025. Sonali Bank aims to bring NPLs down to 11–12 percent in 2026 and into single digits by 2027. Recoveries are gaining momentum, with Tk 745 crore collected from the top 20 defaulters, Khan noted.
Despite the improved performance, the bank is still awaiting substantial receivables from government-linked projects, including Tk 5,500 crore in letter of credit (LC) commissions related to the Rooppur Nuclear Power Plant project.
Management is also addressing loan concentration risks, as 37 percent of total loans are currently concentrated in five branches. Large loan exposures are being redistributed to reduce institutional risk.
Khan credited tighter credit screening and stronger governance for preventing major irregularities in recent years, in contrast to past scandals such as the Hallmark loan fraud. “Public confidence remains high, which is reflected in the steady inflow of deposits,” he said.
Looking ahead, Sonali Bank plans to announce new business targets for 2026, with a focus on further boosting income and sustaining performance gains.
Source: UNB
Bd-pratidin English/ Jisan
