17th October 2025, Kathmandu
The financial landscape in Nepal is witnessing a significant step forward for employee welfare with the announcement of a special agreement between Prabhu Bank Limited and Aarambha Chautari Laghubitta Bittiya Sanstha Limited.
Aarambha Chautari and Prabhu Bank Agreement
This strategic collaboration is designed to provide comprehensive, premium banking facilities and an array of special benefits to all employees of Aarambha Chautari Laghubitta, underscoring a commitment to their financial well-being. This is not just a typical corporate tie-up; it represents a powerful convergence between a commercial banking titan recognized for its technological prowess and a leading microfinance institution dedicated to grassroots financial inclusion.
The Strategic Partnership: Fueling Employee Empowerment
The formal Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) was successfully finalized with the signatures of key institutional leaders, solidifying a relationship set to yield substantial advantages for the microfinance sector’s workforce. Mr. Shiva Prasad Gyawali, Chief Executive Officer of Aarambha Chautari Laghubitta Bittiya Sanstha Limited, and Mr. L.B. Pun, Head of Institutional Banking at Prabhu Bank Limited, officiated the signing. This agreement immediately grants Aarambha Chautari Laghubitta employees access to Prabhu Bank’s sophisticated and client-centric employee banking program.
Key Benefits for Aarambha Chautari Laghubitta Employees
The premium banking services offered under this arrangement are structured to offer convenience, significant cost savings, and specialized financial products. These benefits are typical of a comprehensive salary account package from a major commercial bank, and they provide a substantial upgrade to the financial perks available to the microfinance institution’s personnel.
Zero Minimum Balance Salary Accounts: Employees benefit from a zero-balance salary account, eliminating the financial burden and administrative hassle of maintaining a minimum deposit, which is a major advantage for day-to-day financial management.
Waivers and Discounts on Banking Services: A core component of the employee banking scheme includes a generous discount structure on various essential services. This includes a 50% waiver on the annual locker fee (subject to availability) and many more discounts on other standard bank charges, directly leading to better savings.
Free Digital and Inter-Branch Banking: Employees will enjoy numerous services completely free of charge, such as DMAT account opening, account closing, cheque books from any branch, standing instructions, and balance certificates. Crucially, the scheme offers free ABBS (Any Branch Banking System) charge for transactions up to a certain limit (typically up to NPR 1 million), ensuring seamless fund transfers across the bank’s extensive network.
Concessional Loan and Credit Facilities: Employees gain access to preferential credit facilities, including a provision for Personal/Professional Loans up to a substantial amount (e.g., NPR 1.5 million, subject to approval) at preferential interest rates. They can also apply for a Credit Card with a limit tied to their salary (e.g., up to 1.5 times the monthly gross salary or NPR 300,000, whichever is lower), often with discounted joining fees.
This package transforms the banking experience for the employees, providing them with the secure, efficient, and technologically advanced financial tools necessary to manage their personal and professional finances effectively.
Prabhu Bank: A Leader Driven by Innovation and Trust
The collaboration is strongly anchored by the reputation and technological leadership of Prabhu Bank. The bank is widely acknowledged as one of the most preferred and leading commercial banks in the nation, evidenced by its array of prestigious recognitions.
Bank of the Year 2023: This award recognizes Prabhu Bank’s stability, growth, and overall excellence in the Nepali banking sector, establishing it as a reliable financial partner.
Finacle Infosys Innovation Gold Award 2024: Winning a globally recognized award like the Finacle Infosys Innovation Gold Award highlights the bank’s commitment to cutting-edge technology and digital transformation. This accolade signifies that Prabhu Bank is utilizing its core banking solutions to enhance operational efficiency, accelerate digital service delivery, and dramatically improve the customer experience—all of which directly benefit the new employee account holders with superior digital platforms.
Euromoney Award – Nepal’s Best Digital Bank for SMEs 2025: This honor cements Prabhu Bank’s position as a digital leader, particularly in providing advanced services that cater to commercial and business clients. Employees of the Laghubitta can thus expect top-tier digital banking solutions, including a sophisticated mobile app and online banking platform, backed by a bank that is at the forefront of the digital-first banking era.
With its wide-reaching network of 312 branch offices, 286 ATMs, and 69 extension counters, Prabhu Bank ensures that the employees of Aarambha Chautari Laghubitta will have unparalleled accessibility to their funds and services, regardless of their location across Nepal. The bank’s motto, “We take trust, we give trust,” perfectly encapsulates its mission to deliver high-quality, dependable, and technologically advanced financial services to its growing base of over 3.1 million customers.
Broader Impact on the Microfinance and Banking Sectors
This agreement is a microcosm of a larger trend in the Nepalese financial sector where commercial banks are increasingly forming strategic alliances with microfinance institutions. For Aarambha Chautari Laghubitta, partnering with a commercial bank for employee banking is a powerful tool for employee retention and motivation. Offering premium, discounted banking services enhances their overall employee benefits package, making them a more attractive employer in a competitive market. Furthermore, streamlined payroll and banking processes lead to greater administrative efficiency for the Laghubitta itself.
For Prabhu Bank, the partnership represents a strategic move to expand its market outreach by securing a stable base of salaried customers who are directly involved in the country’s financial ecosystem. It strengthens the inter-institutional relationship, potentially paving the way for future collaboration in areas like wholesale lending to the microfinance institution itself, thereby extending financial access to a wider populace and contributing to the national goal of financial inclusion. This synergy ensures that the dedicated professionals working at the grassroots level of microfinance are themselves supported by a robust and innovative commercial banking partner.
This is a win-win collaboration that elevates the financial standing of the employees while simultaneously reinforcing the institutional strengths of both Prabhu Bank and Aarambha Chautari Laghubitta Bittiya Sanstha Limited, setting a precedent for corporate welfare in the Nepali financial sector.