NRB Directs Banks to Operate Tihar Banking Services for Customs Clearance
Tihar Banking Services
19th October 2025, Kathmandu
Nepal Rastra Bank (NRB) has issued a crucial directive to ensure the smooth flow of trade during the Tihar festival.
Tihar Banking Services
The central bank has actively requested commercial, development, and finance companies (Class ‘A’, ‘B’, and ‘C’ institutions) to operate Tihar Banking Services for Customs Clearance on all days of the festival, with the sole exception of the day of Bhai Tika.
This move is a strategic step to prevent disruptions to the nation’s supply chain and facilitate trade. The central bank directly communicated this request via a circular to banks and financial institutions (BFIs).
The primary objective of the directive is two-fold: to actively facilitate trade and maintain the seamless operation of the national supply system. Holidays often bring economic activity to a halt.
The NRB’s decision ensures essential services continue, preventing potential shortages and price hikes for consumers during the festive season.
Minimizing Supply Chain Disruptions
Long festival holidays can significantly impact customs clearance procedures, thereby slowing down the movement of goods, especially imports.
By urging banks to keep their customs-related services functional, the NRB aims to mitigate the risk of revenue loss and ensure a continuous supply of essential commodities in the market. Traders can actively clear their goods without undue delay.
In a separate but equally important announcement, the central bank also confirmed the operational status of the Real-Time Gross Settlement (RTGS) system.
The NRB specified that the RTGS system was set to operate on Saturday (today) from 10:00 AM until 4:00 PM. This system is critical for processing high-value, urgent interbank payments in real-time.
The continuous operation of the RTGS system, even on weekends or public holidays, plays a vital role in the financial market. It allows banks to actively manage their liquidity and process significant interbank transactions without delay.
This stability is crucial for the overall health of the banking system, especially when a large portion of the financial sector is on holiday. The Tihar Banking Services for Customs Clearance will heavily rely on the RTGS for large-value payments.
Supporting the Festive Economy
Tihar is one of Nepal’s biggest festivals, driving up consumer demand for various goods. The NRB’s directive is a proactive measure.
It actively supports the economy by ensuring that goods, particularly those imported for the festive rush, reach the market promptly. This avoids bottlenecks at customs points. The availability of banking services is the linchpin of this operation.
This is not an isolated incident. The NRB has a history of urging banks to maintain limited operations for customs clearance during major festivals, including Dashain.
This proactive approach underscores the central bank’s commitment to prioritizing national economic stability and trade continuity over a complete cessation of financial services during public holidays. The move actively assists the government in revenue collection.
What Banks Must Actively Do
In response to the NRB’s directive, the specified banks and financial institutions must now actively plan and execute a schedule. They need to assign personnel to handle the essential customs clearance transactions.
This often involves operating a designated branch at key customs points or simply ensuring their electronic payment gateways for customs duties remain fully functional and supported.
The goal is to effectively implement the NRB’s call for continued Tihar Banking Services for Customs Clearance.
For more: Tihar Banking Services
