Merged banks: Depositors begin withdrawing funds

Depositors of five private Shariah-based banks, which were recently merged to form the Sammilito Islami Bank, have begun withdrawing their savings.

Depositors gaining access to their funds on Thursday marks a cautious return of liquidity after a prolonged period of financial distress.

For months, customers had been unable to withdraw the amounts they required from their accounts, while some banks had stopped allowing any withdrawals at all.

Depositors complained that although funds were available at all branches of the five banks in Motijheel, customers were unable to access money from other Dhaka branches, including those in Karwanbazar and Banani.

The Sammilito Islami Bank was formed by merging Exim Bank, First Security Islami Bank, Global Islami Bank, Union Bank and Social Islami Bank -- institutions battered by acute financial strain and years of mismanagement.

On Wednesday, the central bank said the Bank Resolution Scheme 2025 had come into force, confirming that all employees of the five banks -- except those facing legal cases -- would continue under the merged entity.

It also assured depositors of swift access to funds, allowing loans of up to 20 percent against old deposits and up to 80 percent against new deposits.

Initially, withdrawals have been capped at Tk 200,000, followed by a monthly limit of Tk 100,000 over the next three months.

Soheli Jaman, a customer of Social Islami Bank’s Motijheel branch, went to the bank on Thursday with her cheque book after receiving a phone call from the bank to withdraw money.

She said she was able to withdraw Tk 200,000 on the first day.

“I haven’t withdrawn any money in the past month. Those who have not withdrawn anything since November are being allowed to withdraw Tk 200,000,” she said.

She added that she went to the bank primarily to verify whether deposits were actually being released under the new arrangement.

Bangladesh Bank spokesperson Arief Hossain Khan said customers could withdraw funds using their existing cheques for now, with Sammilito Islami Bank cheques to follow later.