17th September 2025, Kathmandu
The full extent of the damage caused by the recent Gen-Z protests is slowly coming to light, with a shocking revelation from the head of the country’s central bank.
Bank Looted During Protests
Nepal Rastra Bank Governor, Prof. Dr. Biswo Nath Poudel, has disclosed that the Baneshwor branch of the state-owned Rastriya Banijya Bank was the target of a major heist, with looters making off with a staggering Rs 50 million in cash and 18 kilograms of gold.
This staggering loss, confirmed by the nation’s top monetary authority, represents one of the most significant financial crimes committed during the period of civil unrest.
The revelation came during a recent podcast interview with Sushant Pradhan, where Governor Poudel provided a detailed overview of the economic fallout from the protests. While the central bank itself remained secure, Dr. Poudel acknowledged that other financial institutions and government offices were not so fortunate.
“There was one serious case of looting,” he stated in the podcast. “From the Rastriya Banijya Bank located inside the Parliament building, about Rs 50 million in cash and nearly 18 kilograms of gold were stolen.”
This information confirms widespread rumors of financial institutions being targeted and provides the first official figure on the scale of the theft.
The looting of a state-owned bank, particularly one situated in a high-security zone like the Parliament building, raises serious questions about the effectiveness of security measures during the unrest.
It suggests that the perpetrators were not merely spontaneous agitators but possibly organized groups taking advantage of the chaotic environment.
The theft of a substantial amount of gold, a high-value and easily transportable commodity, further points to a pre-planned operation. This heist has exposed a critical vulnerability in the country’s financial security infrastructure during times of social upheaval.
While the loss of public property was widely reported, the scale of this financial loss was previously undisclosed. Other reports of vandalism and arson at bank branches and ATMs across the country have come out, but the theft of such a large quantity of cash and gold from a vault is unprecedented in the context of these protests. The incident highlights the difference between civil disobedience and outright criminal activity, a line that was clearly crossed by some elements during the demonstrations.
Dr. Poudel also touched upon the broader anxieties that gripped the financial sector at the time. He shared that there was significant fear that ATMs could run out of cash due to public panic and that digital transactions might be brought to a halt.
While these worst-case scenarios did not materialize, the threat of a complete collapse of the digital and physical banking systems was a real concern for the central bank and financial institutions. The resilience of the banking system in the face of such a crisis is noteworthy, but it does not diminish the gravity of the heist at Rastriya Banijya Bank.
This incident also serves as a critical warning for the future. As technology and digital banking become more integrated into the lives of Nepalis, the security of both physical and virtual assets is paramount.
The looting of a physical bank vault, containing both cash and gold, demonstrates that traditional criminal methods remain a significant threat.
It also underscores the need for financial institutions and the government to collaborate on developing robust security protocols that can withstand even the most severe civil unrest.
As investigations continue, the public will be waiting for answers on how such a major heist could occur. The focus will now be on law enforcement agencies to identify and apprehend the perpetrators and to recover the stolen assets.
The revelation by Governor Poudel adds a new, and deeply concerning, dimension to the narrative of the Gen-Z protests, moving the conversation beyond political and social grievances to include the stark reality of criminal exploitation.
For more: Bank Looted During Protests