16th October 2025, Kathmandu
Nepal SBI Bank, a leading financial institution, is cementing its position not just as a financial powerhouse but as a torchbearer of ethical conduct in the Nepalese banking sector. The institution recently showcased its unwavering dedication to moral and professional standards by having all employees take a comprehensive ethics pledge on Global Ethics Day, celebrated annually on October 15th.
NSBL Pledges Integrity and Transparency
This deliberate and public commitment to honesty, transparency, and integrity is a powerful affirmation of the bank’s core values and its foundational philosophy of responsible service delivery. This article explores the significance of the bank’s pledge, the core tenets of ethical banking, and the broader impact of its commitment on Nepal’s financial landscape.
The Global Movement: Understanding Global Ethics Day
Global Ethics Day is an internationally recognized annual event, typically observed on the third Wednesday of October, established in 2014 by the Carnegie Council for Ethics in International Affairs. For 2025, the date aligns with October 15th, focusing on themes designed to champion ethics as a force for good in the world. This day serves as an important moment for individuals and organizations across the globe—including businesses, schools, and non-profits—to pause, reflect on, and openly discuss the values and principles that shape ethical decision-making.
For a major financial institution like Nepal SBI Bank (NSBL), participating in Global Ethics Day is more than a formality; it is a vital practice of corporate responsibility. By aligning its internal mandate with a global movement, the bank reinforces its dedication to a consistent ethical framework that transcends local market dynamics and connects it to international best practices. This annual reaffirmation ensures that the concept of “ethics” remains a living, active process within the organization, influencing everything from daily customer interactions to high-level strategic decisions.
Nepal SBI Bank’s Unwavering Pledge to Integrity
On October 15, 2025, at its Corporate Office in Kathmandu, Nepal SBI Bank Limited conducted a special program where Managing Director and Chief Executive Officer Ram Kumar Tiwari administered a formal ethics pledge. This ceremony, which saw participation from senior executives including Deputy CEO & COO Vikas Anand, Chief Financial Officer Rajesh Kumar Panda, and Chief Compliance Officer Bishnu Dev Yadav, was a high-profile statement of commitment. Importantly, this unified commitment extended across the entire organization, as staff members from all provincial and branch offices also took the pledge at their respective locations.
The essence of the pledge centers on three paramount values: honesty, transparency, and ethical conduct. In the financial world, these principles translate into crucial operational commitments:
- Honesty ensures truthful communication, accurate financial reporting, and fairness in all transactions.
- Transparency means clear, open, and understandable processes, fee structures, and disclosures to customers and stakeholders.
- Ethical Conduct embodies a commitment to doing right by customers, colleagues, and the community, often surpassing minimal legal requirements.
This collective and public pledge serves as an internal benchmark for accountability, fostering a culture of moral integrity that is indispensable for a bank operating in a sensitive, public-trust-dependent sector. The move demonstrates that ethical behavior is not a guideline reserved for compliance officers but a fundamental expectation for every employee.
The Core Pillars of Ethical Banking at NSBL
Ethical banking is defined by a consciousness of how banking practices affect society and the environment, striving to generate earnings without sacrificing principles or causing harm. For NSBL, this philosophy is deeply integrated into its corporate structure and operations, which have been running successfully for 32 years as the first Indo-Nepal joint venture in the financial sector.
The bank’s parent company, the State Bank of India (SBI), emphasizes core principles encapsulated in the acronym STEPS: Service, Transparency, Ethics, Politeness, and Sustainability. Nepal SBI Bank integrates these values through several concrete actions:
- Corporate Governance and Code of Ethics: NSBL maintains a strict Code of Ethics which, among other things, mandates the confidentiality of customer information and explicitly prohibits employees from accepting gifts or offers intended to influence business decisions. This proactive stance on anti-corruption and compliance with regulations like the Bank and Financial Institution Act (BAFIA) ensures robust internal control and regulatory adherence. The bank’s governance framework is specifically designed to maintain a high level of business ethics and protect the interests of all stakeholders, from shareholders to society at large.
- Stakeholder Value and Transparency: The bank’s corporate governance structure is committed to protecting and enhancing shareholder value while simultaneously protecting the interests of customers, employees, and society. This balance is achieved by ensuring transparency and integrity in communication and making full, accurate, and clear information available to all concerned parties.
- Community and Social Responsibility (CSR): Ethical banking is incomplete without a commitment to the wider community. NSBL views Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR) as an investment in society’s future, structuring its efforts around three key areas:
- Social Service: Providing assistance and support to charities and less fortunate members of society, exemplified by support to organizations like Manavsewa Ashram.
- Education and Sports: Encouraging community growth through sponsoring sporting events and supporting educational activities, including initiatives for financial literacy.
- Environment Conservation: Actively promoting a greener country through sponsorships of tree plantations and beautification projects.
Commitment in Scale: NSBL’s Reach and Impact
Nepal SBI Bank’s commitment to ethical banking is delivered across an extensive and growing network. With a long history spanning over three decades, the bank provides reliable services through a vast footprint that includes 101 Branches, 22 Extension Counters, 20 Branchless Banking Units, 7 Provincial Offices, 127 ATMs, and 1 Corporate Office.
The reaffirmation of ethical standards on Global Ethics Day ensures that this massive network operates under a unified moral compass. In an era where trust in financial institutions is paramount, the bank’s initiative to make integrity a non-negotiable part of its operational DNA serves as a model for the entire industry. By consciously focusing on principles like integrity and accountability, NSBL is not only securing its financial stability but is also strengthening the public’s confidence in Nepal’s banking sector, proving that long-term success is intrinsically linked to ethical and responsible conduct.
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