Financial Performance Analysis of Sonali Bank Limited

Executive Summary

Commercial Banks are one of the key contributors to the economy of Bangladesh. As a commercial bank, how much Sonali Bank Limited contributing the people of Bangladesh in case of forming capital, lending funds, collecting remittances from aboard, controlling default loan and banking services encourages us to study its financial activities and performance. It is the largest commercial bank which was established in 1972 with the vision to stand out as a pioneer banking institution in Bangladesh and contribute significantly to the national economy. The authorized capital of the Bank is Tk. 10.00 Billion. Its capital and reserve reached Tk.400 billion as on June 31, 2009. The bank had 26,085 staff of whom January 31, 2010. They provide different kind of product and services. Sonali Bank Limited believes in sound and effective governance as a preferred priority. The Board of Directors is the body responsible for corporate governance, devising policies, determining objectives for stewardship of Bank’s resources. The pace of development of a financial institution is primarily based upon its ability to develop and utilize the innate capacities of its employees. The bank has completed 38^th year of banking operations with a network o 1182 branches recording significant growth in business and profitability.

As an Intern, I had the opportunity to do the different types of tasks under Sonali Bank Limited. During the internship period, I have used my observations and gained experiences about various banking functions and day-today operations. Sonali Bank Limited provides different types of services to its customer’s like-

• Merchant Banking.
• Foreign exchange.
• General banking etc.

I segmented my report into nine chapters. First covers the introduction about the report, second chapter covers the literature review. Third chapter is the organizational overview of Sonali Bank Limited. Fourth chapter is for the services provided by Sonali Bank Limited; Fifth chapter includes special schemes of Sonali Bank Limited, Sixth chapter is for evaluating the financial performance of Sonali Bank Limited and remaining chapter consists of finding, limitations and recommendations. This report will provide a view regarding the products and performance of the Sonali Bank Limited.

1.1 Introduction of the Report

Banks play the most important role in the economy. Banks collect money from the individuals and lend them to others. Now banks offer the widest range of financial services and perform lots of financial functions. Thus banks have proven that they are the key factor for the business and economy as well.

Sonali Bank Limited is the largest banking institution in Bangladesh, dynamic in actions, honest in dealings, just in judgment, fair in approaches and devoted to high quality service to customers and thereby contribute to the growth of GDP of the country throughout stimulating trade and commerce, boosting up export, poverty alleviation, raising living standard of limited income group and overall sustainable socio-economic development in the country.

To achieve the aforesaid objectives of the Bank, different banking activities must play an active role to provide the financial assistance to the customer who also helps them by providing them with management assistance when needed. Sonali Bank Limited has played this role with their experiences in the banking sector where the others are not merely performed.

The internship report comprises a brief study on the Sonali Bank Limited during three months internship. The report is distributed in many parts according to nature and requirement of organization and according to the instructions of supervisor of report.

1.2 Justification of the study

Internship Program is a mandatory program for all students of B.B.A under National University. Practical orientation is a positive development in professional area. Recognizing the importance of practical experience, Department of Business Administration has introduced a one to three months practical exposure as a part of the curriculum of Bachelor of Business Administration.

For the completion of this internship program I have chosen a bank named “Sonali Bank Limited” and my internship report is based on “Financial performance analysis of Sonali Bank Limited”. I have prepared this report under Mr. Sohel Ahmed, Lecturer, Department of Business Administration, Dhaka City College. In the study period, mainly student gain theoretical knowledge but now a day, in the job market there is no substitute of principle work experience. Therefore, before getting into job, students should have some real world experience in the major field of study on the career choice that interest him/her.

1.3 Objective of the Study

The objective of the study is to gather practice of all knowledge regarding business sector and operations. Theory classes of B.B.A provide us theories regarding business sector and practical orientation gives us the chance of view those systems and their operations. More precisely we can identify those objectives:

To gather the practical experience base on the theoretical knowledge.

To habituated with the corporate environment and culture.

To serve the function of overall banker customer relationship.

To observe the function of general banking system.

To evaluate the financial performance of Sonali Bank Limited.

To observe the function of merchant banking operations.

To understand and analyze the financial strength of Sonali Bank Limited.

To observe the function of foreign exchange department.

To learn and acquainted to fulfill the academic purpose.

1.4 Scope of the Study

As I was an intern, my scope was limited and restricted for some purpose. I had maintained some official formality for the collection of data of my report. This study will give a clear idea about the financial performance of Sonali Bank Limited as well as the different section of different products and services of Sonali Bank Limited. At last the financial position of the bank in the banking industry based on its last couple of year’s performance.

Information availability.

Good communication system.

Have a wide area of gaining knowledge.

Good working environment.

1.5 Methodology of the Study

I have designed this report as an expletory research paper. Here I have discussed the general banking system of Sonali Bank Limited and critically analyze the banking procedure with the standard one as per theoretical framework. For this purpose I use my personal observation during my internship program. Through conversation with the different level officers of the Bank, I also gather knowledge about the general banking system. For theoretical framework, I go through a number of credit related books, financial management books, business communication book, foreign exchange manuals, Bangladesh Bank guidelines.

1.6 Sources of the Information

For smooth and accurate study everyone has to follow some rules and regulations. The study inputs were collected from two sources:

Primary Sources:

Practical desk work.

Face to face with officers.

Face to face conversation with the client.

Facing some practical situation related with the day to day banking activities.

Secondary Sources:

Annual Report of Sonali Bank Limited.

Brochures.

Websites.

1.7 Limitation of the Study

Any research work needs high degree of involvement regarding collection of information, creation of data base, literature review and analysis of data. While doing so, many limitations arise even though we always put our best effort to avoid them. In conducting the present study, the following limitation has been faced.

The personnel of the organization did not want to disclose the classified information to the outsiders.

Due to lack of experience, there is a chance of having some mistake in the report though best effort has been applied to avoid any kind of mistake.

I have faced major limitation in the financial projection as my estimate was rather informative base than of actual one.

Time was not sufficient to make an in depth study on such issue.

2.1 Definition of Bank

Generally Bank is refers to an Organization that deals with money. The definition of Bank may be as follows:

As per Bank Companies Act 1991:

Banking Company means any company which transacts the business of banking in Bangladesh and includes a new bank and specialized bank.

Banking means the accepting for the purpose of lending or institute of deposit of money from public repayable on demand or other wise and withdraw able by draft, order o otherwise.

Provided by Famous Encyclopedia:

A commercial banker is a dealer in money in substitutes for money, such as cheque or bill of exchange.–New Encyclopedia Britannica.

Establishment for custody of money which it pays out on customers order. – The New Oxford Encyclopedia Dictionary.

Provided by an Ordinances:

Banker includes a body of person whether incorporated or not, who carry on the business of banking.–English Bills of Exchange Act-1882.

A bank is a person or corporation carrying on bonafide banking business.– English Finance Act.

Provided by Banking Institutes:

A bank performs an essentially distributive task, service or acts as an intermediary between borrowers & lenders. In broader sense, however, a bank can be considered the heart of a complex financial structure. –American Institute of Banking.

Provided by Famous Economist:

A Bank is an institution whose debts are widely in sell element of other people debts to each other. – R.S. Sayers.

A Banker is a dealer in debt his own and other peoples. – Crowther.

A Bank is a financial intermediary a dealer in loans and debts. ­– Cairn Cross.

2.2 Objective of a Bank

The objectives of a Bank can be looked at from 3 different perspectives of the 3 key parties to the banking activities- Bank owners, the Government and The bank clients.

From the owner’s perspective:

i)         Earning Profit: Just like any owner of a commercial institution, a bank owner’s main objective is to earn profit, which is achieved mainly through monetary exchanges.

ii)       Rendering Service: Banks Provide Different types of services to the government and people of the country.

iii)    Goodwill: In order to earn profit through rendering services, banks need to have a lot of goodwill, may be a bit more than other commercial institutions.

iv)     Raising Efficiency: To earn maximum profit, banks need to provide efficient service, for which they require expert workforce.

From the Government’s Perspective:

i)         Issue of Notes & Currencies: Since civilizations have moved along from the barter system, it has been the objective of the Government of different countries to provide its economy with a proper exchange media through issuance of notes & currencies through bank, which also take upon the duty of maintaining the system.

ii)       Capital formation: The Government wants that bank assist in the macroeconomic objective of capital formation by encouraging people to participate in savings.

iii)    Capital Investment & Industrialization: the Government, as a part of their secondary macroeconomic objective, wants the bank to assist in capital investment & industrialization by lending out their accumulated capital.

iv)     Money Market Control: Government tries to stabilize the money market through banks.

v)       Employment: As part of their primary macroeconomic objectives, they expect banks to provide employment for its people.

vi)     Advice on Financial Matters: Since banks hire a lot of financial experts and advisors, it often seeks advice from banks to help them develop policies.

From the Bank Client’s Perspective:

i)         Deposit: One of the bank’s main objectives is to accept its clients’ deposits. Like bank clients also want to deposit money with a competitive rate of interest.

ii)       Safety: Providing safekeeping of its client’s monetary possessions and valuables is another one of banks essential objectives.

iii)    Advisors & Consultants: Banks provide its clients with advisors and consultants to help them chalk out an appropriate savings plan.

iv)     Representatives or Trustees: Both the clients and government rely on the bank to act as their representatives and trustees of monetary exchange activities.

v)       Raising living standard: By providing interests against their deposits, banks help their clients to improve their living standards.

2.3 Business of Banking Company (BANK COMPANY ACT 1991):

In addition to the business of banking a bank company may engage in any one or more of the following forms of business:

a)    the borrowing, raising or taking up of money;

b)     the lending or advancing of money either upon or without security;

c)     the drawing, making, accepting, discounting, buying, selling, collecting and dealing in bills of exchange, hoondees, promissory notes, coupons, drafts,bills of lading, railway receipts, warrants, debentures, certificates, participation term certificates, term finance certificates, musharika certificates, modareka certificates, such other instruments as may be approved by the Bangladesh Bank, and such other instruments and securities whether transferable or negotiable or not;

d)    the granting and issuing of letters of credit, traveller’s checks, and circular notes;

e)     the buying, selling and dealing in gold and silver coins and coins of other metals;

f)       the buying and selling of foreign exchange including foreign bank notes;

g)     the acquiring, holding, issuing on commission, underwriting and dealing in stocks,

funds, shares, debenture stock, obligations, participation term certificates, term finance certificates, musharika certificates, modareka certificates and such other instruments and investments of any kind as may be approved by the Bangladesh Bank;

h)    the purchasing and selling of bonds, scrips or other forms of securities, participation term certificates, term finance certificates, musharika certificates, modareka certificates and, on behalf of the constituents of the Bangladesh Bank or others, such other instruments as may be approved by the Bangladesh Bank;

i)       the negotiating of loans and advances;

j)       the receiving of all kinds of bonds or other valuables on deposit or for safe custody or otherwise;

k)    providing vaults for the safety of the deposits;

l)       the collecting and transmitting of money against securities;

m) acting as agents for the Government, local authorities or any other person;

n)     the carrying on of agency business of any description including the clearing and forwarding of goods and acting as a law agent on behalf of customers, but excluding the business of a managing agent or treasurer of a company;

• o)    contracting for public and private loans and negotiating and issuing the same;

p)     the effecting, insuring and underwriting of shares, stocks, debentures, debenture stock of any company, corporation or association and the lending of money for the purpose of any such issue;

q)    the carrying on and transacting of every kind of guarantee and indemnity business;

r)      the buying and acquiring of any kind of property including merchandise, patents, designs, trademarks and copyrights, in addition to, at the normal business period of a bank, such or similar transactions as-

1) repurchase by the seller, or
2) selling in the way called purchase on rent, or
3) repayment of outstanding rates, or
4) leases, or
5) sharing out of revenues, or
6) financing in any other way;

s)     bringing into possession any property which may satisfy or partly satisfy any of the claims of the banking company and the managing and borrowing of such property;

t)      acquiring, holding and managing of any property or any right, title or interest in any such property which may form the security or part of the security for any loans or advances or which may be connected with any such security;

u)    undertaking and executing trusts;

v)    undertaking the administration of movable and immovable property as executor, trustee or otherwise;

w)   for the benefit of employees or ex-employees of the banking company or the dependants and connections of such persons-

1) establishing and supporting, or aiding in the establishment and support of associations, institutions, funds, trusts or any other establishment;
2) granting pensions and allowances;
3) making payments toward insurance;
4) subscribing to any exhibition or any object generally useful;
5) guaranteeing money for all these purposes.

x)     the acquisition, construction, maintenance and alteration of any building or works necessary or convenient for the purpose of the banking company;

y)      selling, improving, managing, exchanging, leasing, mortgaging or otherwise transferring or turning into account or otherwise disposing of all or any part of the property or rights of the banking company;

z)      acquiring and undertaking the whole or any part of the business of any person or company, when such business is of a nature enumerated or described in this subsection;
aa) doing all such other things as are incidental or conducive to the promotion or advancement of the business of the company;
ab) any other form of business which the Government may, by notification in the official Gazette, specify as a form of business in which it is lawful for a banking company to engage.

2.4 An Overview of Banking Operation in Bangladesh

The development process of a country largely depends upon its economic activities. Banking is a powerful medium among other spheres of modern socio-economic activities for bringing about socio-economic changes in a developing country like Bangladesh. Three different sectors like socio-economic changes in a developing country like Bangladesh. Three different sectors like Agriculture, commerce, and industry provide the bulk of a country’s wealth.

With the passage of time the functions of the bank has got a multi-dimensional configuration. Of all the functions of a modern bank, lending is by far the most important. They provide both short-term and long term credit. The customers come from all walks of life, from a small business a multi-national corporation having its business activities all around the world. The banks have to satisfy the requirements of different customers belonging to different social groups.

To regulate the activities of other banks, al the commercial private and/ or nationalized, and specialized banks perform service related activities within the jurisdiction of the Central Bank. In our Country, Bangladesh the role of the central bank is entitled to be executed by Bangladesh Bank. The banking system at independence consisted of two branch offices of the former State Bank of Pakistan and seventeen large commercial banks, two of which were controlled by Bangladeshi interests and three by foreigners other than West Pakistanis. There were fourteen smaller commercial banks. Virtually all banking services were concentrated in urban areas. The newly independent government immediately designated the Dhaka branch of the State Bank of Pakistan as the central bank and renamed it the Bangladesh Bank. The bank was responsible for regulating currency, controlling credit and monetary policy, and administering exchange control and the official foreign exchange reserves. The Bangladesh government initially nationalized the entire domestic banking system and proceeded to reorganize and rename the various banks. Foreign-owned banks were permitted to continue doing business in Bangladesh. The insurance business was also nationalized and became a source of potential investment funds. Cooperative credit systems and postal savings offices handled service to small individual and rural accounts. The new banking system succeeded in establishing reasonably efficient procedures for managing credit and foreign exchange. The primary function of the credit system throughout the 1970s was to finance trade and the public sector, which together absorbed 75 percent of total advances.

The government’s encouragement during the late 1970s and early 1980s of agricultural development and private industry brought changes in lending strategies. Managed by the Bangladesh Krishi Bank, a specialized agricultural banking institution, lending to farmers and fishermen dramatically expanded. The number of rural bank branches doubled between 1977 and 1985, to more than 3,330. Denationalization and private industrial growth led the Bangladesh Bank and the World Bank to focus their lending on the emerging private manufacturing sector. Scheduled bank advances to private agriculture, as a percentage of sectoral GDP, rose from 2 percent in FY 1979 to 11 percent in FY 1987, while advances to private manufacturing rose from 13 percent to 53 percent.

The transformation of finance priorities has brought with it problems in administration. No sound project-appraisal system was in place to identify viable borrowers and projects. Lending institutions did not have adequate autonomy to choose borrowers and projects and were often instructed by the political authorities. In addition, the incentive system for the banks stressed disbursements rather than recoveries, and the accounting and debt collection systems were inadequate to deal with the problems of loan recovery. It became more common for borrowers to default on loans than to repay them; the lending system was simply disbursing grant assistance to private individuals who qualified for loans more for political than for economic reasons. The rate of recovery on agricultural loans was only 27 percent in FY 1986, and the rate on industrial loans was even worse. As a result of this poor showing, major donors applied pressure to induce the government and banks to take firmer action to strengthen internal bank management and credit discipline. As a consequence, recovery rates began to improve in 1987. The National Commission on Money, Credit, and Banking recommended broad structural changes in Bangladesh’s system of financial intermediation early in 1987, many of which were built into a three-year compensatory financing facility signed by Bangladesh with the IMF in February 1987.

One major exception to the management problems of Bangladeshi banks was the Grameen Bank, begun as a government project in 1976 and established in 1983 as an independent bank. In the late 1980s, the bank continued to provide financial resources to the poor on reasonable terms and to generate productive self-employment without external assistance. Its customers were landless persons who took small loans for all types of economic activities, including housing. About 70 percent of the borrowers were women, who were otherwise not much represented in institutional finance. Collective rural enterprises also could borrow from the Grameen Bank for investments in tube wells, rice and oil mills, and power looms and for leasing land for joint cultivation. The average loan by the Grameen Bank in the mid-1980s was around Tk.2,000 (US$65), and the maximum was just Tk18,000 (for construction of a tin-roof house). Repayment terms were 4 percent for rural housing and 8.5 percent for normal lending operations.

The Grameen Bank extended collateral-free loans to 200,000 landless people in its first 10 years. Most of its customers had never dealt with formal lending institutions before. The most remarkable accomplishment was the phenomenal recovery rate; amid the prevailing pattern of bad debts throughout the Bangladeshi banking system, only 4 percent of Grameen Bank loans were overdue. The bank had from the outset applied a specialized system of intensive credit supervision that set it apart from others. Its success, though still on a rather small scale, provided hope that it could continue to grow and that it could be replicated or adapted to other development-related priorities. The Grameen Bank was expanding rapidly, planning to have 500 branches throughout the country by the late 1980s.

Beginning in late 1985, the government pursued a tight monetary policy aimed at limiting the growth of domestic private credit and government borrowing from the banking system. The policy was largely successful in reducing the growth of the money supply and total domestic credit. Net credit to the government actually declined in FY 1986. The problem of credit recovery remained a threat to monetary stability, responsible for serious resource misallocation and harsh inequities. Although the government had begun effective measures to improve financial discipline, the draconian contraction of credit availability contained the risk of inadvertently discouraging new economic activity.

Foreign exchange reserves at the end of FY 1986 were US$476 million, equivalent to slightly more than 2 months worth of imports. This represented a 20-percent increase of reserves over the previous year, largely the result of higher remittances by Bangladeshi workers abroad. The country also reduced imports by about 10 percent to US$2.4 billion. Because of Bangladesh’s status as a least developed country receiving concessional loans, private creditors accounted for only about 6 percent of outstanding public debt. The external public debt was US$6.4 billion, and annual debt service payments were US$467 million at the end of FY 1986.

2.6 Central Bank and Its Policy

Bangladesh Bank is the central bank in Bangladesh. It was established on 16^th December 1971 under the Bangladesh Bank (Temporary) Order 1971. Bangladesh Bank (BB), as the central bank, has legal authority to supervise and regulate all the banks. It performs the traditional central banking roles of note issuance and being banker to the government and banks. It formulates and implements monetary policy manages foreign exchange reserves and supervises banks and non-bank financial institutions. Its regulations Include:

Minimum capital requirements.

Limits on loan concentration and insider borrowing.

Guidelines for asset classification.

Income recognition.

Bangladesh Bank has the power to impose penalties for non-compliance and also to intervene in the management of a bank if serious problems arise. It also has the delegated authority of issuing policy directives regarding the foreign exchange regime. The powers and functions of Bangladesh Bank are governed by Bangladesh Bank Order 1972 and Banking Companies Act 1991 to make provisions for streamlining the affair of banking companies to suite the present day’s socio-economic needs of the country. The function of Bangladesh Bank may be classified into following:

Commercial Bank:

The commercial banking system dominates Bangladesh’s financial sector with limited role of Non-Bank Financial Institutions and the capital market. The Banking sector alone accounts for a substantial share of assets of the financial system. The banking system is dominated by the 4 Nationalized Commercial Banks, which together controlled more than 57% of deposits and operated 3390 branches (55% of the total) as of December 31, 2007.

Specialized Banks:

Out of the 5 specialized banks, two (Bangladesh Krishi Bank and Rajshahi Krishi Unnayan Bank) were created to meet the credit needs of the agriculture sector while the other two (Bangladesh Shilpa Bank and Bangladesh Shilpa Rin Sangstha) are for extending term loans to the industrial sector. BASIC Bank Limited was established as the policy makers of the country felt the urgency for a bank in the private sector for financing small scale industries (SSSIs).

3.1 A Brief Overview of Sonali bank Limited

Sonali Bank is a state-owned commercial bank in Bangladesh. It is the largest bank of the country.^[A fully state-owned enterprise, the bank has been discharging its nation-building responsibilities by undertaking government entrusted different socio-economic schemes as well as money market activities of its own volition, covering all spheres of the economy. Sonali Bank Limited singularly enjoys the prestige of being the agent of the Central Bank of Bangladesh in such places where the guardian of the money market has chosen not to act by itself.

Sonali Bank was established in 1972 under the Bangladesh Banks (Nationalization) Order, through the amalgamation and nationalization of the branches of National Bank of Pakistan, Bank of Bhowalpur and Premier Bank branches located in East Pakistan until the 1971 Bangladesh Liberation War. When it was established, Sonali Bank had a paid up capital of 30 million taka. In 2001, it’s authorized and paid up capital were Tk. 10 billion and Tk. 3.272 billion respectively. The bank’s reserve funds were Tk. 60 million in 1979 and Tk. 2.050 billion on 30 June 2000.

The management of Sonali Bank is vested in a 7-member board of directors appointed by the government. The managing director is the chief executive. He is assisted by a deputy managing director, six general managers, and other senior executives. The general managers are in charge of the bank’s branches in the headquarters of the six administrative divisions of the country namely, Dhaka, Chittagong, Rajshahi, Khulna, Sylhet and Barisal. The bank has 32 departments at its head office including a training institute in Dhaka. On 30 June 2000, the total number of employees of the bank was 26,085.

3.2 Role of Sonali bank Limited in the National Economy

Economy and Banking industry go together and are inseparable. Sonali Bank Limited has been playing an important role in the economic development of the country. As many as 26,085 people are in the employment of the Bank as on December 31, 2008. Besides, Sonali Bank Limited has generated employments for hundreds of people in the projects and industries established under finance. The Bank has been financing the trade and commerce of the country since inception of the Bank in 1997. We have handled a volume of countries exports and imports. The deposits our Bank mobilized through the outlets of branches helped in the formation of capital in the country. Our lending to borrower reached Tk. 23163.18 million as on June 30, 2009. It has contributed to the industrialization and improvement of trade and commerce of the country which ultimately accelerated economic growth and national welfare through multiplying effect. We have collected VAT and tax on interest/ profit earning of customers of the Bank. For relief and rehabilitation of natural calamity-hit people of the country in 2007 the bank has donated a denoted amount of money.

Foreign Remittance

To develop national infrastructure and economy of Bangladesh Sonali Bank Limited has been playing dominant role to bring hard earning of Bangladesh expatriates working/ living abroad through banking channels. For this purpose, Sonali Bank Limited has established a bank named Sonali Bank (U.K) and an exchange house named Sonali Exchange Company Inc. (SECI), USA. Our Bank has also established drawing arrangement with various exchange house / banks in Middle East, Canada and Malaysia. Under this arrangement, remitters can easily send their hard earning to the beneficiaries in Bangladesh through 1184 Sonali Bank Limited Branches across the country. They can remit their money through Demand Drafts (DD), Telegraphic Transfers (TTs), SWIFT and / or Computerized Payment Instructions (PC to PC via dial up modem) on Sonali Bank Limited selective branches.

Trade Financing:

Sonali Bank Limited extends multiple credit facilities to boost up trade, commerce and industry. The credit packages and interest rates are as under:

Investment Banking:

Central Accounts & Fund Management Division at Head Office maintains Investment Portfolio of the Bank. With a view to implementing Government policies & decisions and accelerating the growth of the capital market of the country, surplus funds of Sonali Bank are utilized in the following areas:

A)    Short Term:

1. Call loans: An overnight investment to other Banks & Financial Institutions.
2. Treasury Bills: Investment made to the Government through Treasury bills.

B)    Long Term:

1. Government/ Public Bonds: Sonali Bank Limited purchases bonds issued by the Govt. of Bangladesh and other Public Bodies.
2. Shares/ Equity Participation: Sonali Bank Limited participate in the IPO and extend bridge finance to the equity of public limited companies, institutions and public bodies.
3. Debentures: Sonali Bank Limited purchases debentures issued by the public bodies and financial institutions under Government.

3.3 Corporate Profile of Sonali Bank Limited

3.4 Nature of Business

The Principle activities of the bank include providing of all kinds of commercial banking services to its customers. The activities can be classified in the following ways:

Corporate Banking.

Project Financing.

SME Finance.

Consumer Credit.

International Trade.

Trade Finance.

Loan Syndication.

Foreign Exchange Dealing.

Rural and Micro Credit.

NGO- Linkage Loan.

Investment.

Government Treasury Function.

Money Market Operation.

Capital Market Operation.

Remittance.

3.5 Core Values

Sonali Bank Limited (SBL)’s Core Value proposition consists of ten key elements. The values would assist the bank in perceiving its employees to work as a team towards accomplishment of assigned duties and responsibility for achievement of desired objectives.

Team work: Open communication, discussion and interaction amongst the employees would ensure unification of actions and efforts towards achieving the common goal.

Ethics: Every one must ensure adherence to ethical practices of banking.

Objectivity: All persons will have definite objective in carrying out their tasks.

Integrity: Protection and safeguard of customers’ interest is a vital element for societal trust.

Excellence: Excellent performance and effectiveness are preconditions to ensure quality service to the large customer base of the bank.

Innovation: New and innovative products are the needs of the time for which continuous action oriented researches are carried out.

Commitment: Every employee is committed to work up to the expected level to ensure satisfaction of valued customers.

Self Reliance: Each employee will have ownership attitude towards the bank and self confidence in his work for betterment of the bank.

Transparency: Information is to be kept open for all so that stakeholders can have proper ideas about the bank’s activities.

Accountability: All employees are responsible for their activities and will remain accountable to their respective superior for accomplishment of tasks.

3.6 Core Strengths

Transparent and Quick Decision Making.

Efficient Team of Performer.

Satisfied Customers.

Internal Control.

Skilled Risk Management.

Diversification.

3.7 Core Competencies

Knowledge

Experience & Expertise.

Customer Orientation/ Focus.

Transparency.

Determination.

Zeal for Improvement.

Reliability.

3.8 Ethical Principles

Sonali Bank Limited believes that it will become a leading bank in the government sector. They believe that their aims and objectives can only be realized fully and sustained overtime by faithfulness to ethics that cannot always be built into sets of rules and regulations. In this belief in ethics that motivates the bank in its dealings with customer, regulators and employees.

3.9 Commitment to Clients

Sonali Bank Limited has trying to concentrate on modern banking through continuous using modern technology. We also trying to help more to customer by providing various savings schemes like as EDS, MES and DBS etc. Our commitments to the clients are the following:

Provide service with high degree of professionalism & continuous use of modern technology through proper use of young generation officers.

Create long-term relationship based on mutual trust with customers.

Share customer’s values & beliefs.

Provide product and service at competitive pricing.

Ensure safety and security of customer’s valuables in trust with us.

3.10 Corporate Social Responsibility(CSR)

Sonali Bank Limited (SBL) has been rendering various services for attaining greater social goals and objectives. For this process, we aim to contribute towords sustainable development of the society as a whole and fulfillment of corporate social obligation in particular. To reinforce CSR activities, the bank has undertaken fresh initiatives in line with Bangladesh Bank guidelines in the areas of social services, empowerment of women and poor, sports & culture, banking for the disadvantaged groups, disaster & relief activities.

Social Services:

SBL has been rendering social services through distribution of various allowances to the Freedom Fighters, Widows, Old–age citizens, vulnerable groups, Disabled peoples etc. as per laid down criteria of the government.  Besides, the bank has been disbursing pension of govt. employees, monthly salary of teachers, and govt. and semi govt. officials without charges.

Empowerment of women and poor:

SBL has been providing wholesale credit facilities to different micro credit institution who are in turn lending amongst the women and poor people in different Income Generating Activities (IGA).

Sports and Cultural Activities:

Sonali Bank Limited has a tradition of patronizing and sponsoring sports and cultural activities at home and abroad. In 2007, Sonali Bank Limited became Champion in the Victory Day Hockey Tournament and Runners’ up in the Office Hockey League, Dhaka.

Banking service for the Disadvantaged Groups:

With 1182 branches all over Bangladesh, SBL could reach the banking services to the disadvantaged groups with the aim to encourage them in mobilization of their hard earned savings and creation for them investment opportunities.

Employee welfare:

SBL offers annual stipends and scholarships to the brilliant children of the employees of the bank.

Disaster Relief:

SBL always stands beside the helpless people at the times of natural calamities and extends helping hands to the sufferers.  SBL donated Tk. 10.5 million to help the victims of cyclone ‘Sidor’ to the relief fund of the Chief Advisor.  Sonali Bank Limited has collected funds from Bangladeshis residing abroad and remitted over Tk. 150 million at free of charge through Sonali Exchange Company (SECI), USA and Sonali Bank (UK) Limited. SBL has also donated to establish a Cancer Hospital in Dhaka. It has helped a number of Foundations and Organisations for raising funds through lottery and other means.

Future Plan:

SBL will continue to patronize sports and culture at home and abroad. Arrangements will be made for rendering better social services to the community apart from core banking activities. Specific action plans will be initiated to expand CSR programs in line with the guidelines of Bangladesh Bank and Securities & Exchange Commission (SEC).

4.1 Personal Banking

Sonali Bank Limited extends all the major personal banking facilities and services to its customers with its skilled manpower and largest network of around 1187 branches covering all the urban and remote rural areas of Bangladesh. Sonali Bank Limited provides Local & Foreign Remittance in quickest possible time. Foreign remittance is available in both Taka cash. & Taka draft.

1. Transfer of fund from one branch to another by – Demand Draft Savings A/C – Mail Transfer Daily Profit A/C – Telegraphic Transfer FDR A/C.
2. Transfer of fund on Standing Instruction Arrangement (Trade Finance).
3. Collection of cheques through clearing house/beyond Clearing House.
4. Issuance of payment Order/Call Deposit.
5. Locker facilities for safe keeping of valuables.
6. Corporate Client Services with computerized system at selective branches.

4.2 Rural Credit

Bangladesh is primarily an agricultural country. A major portion of her population ( about 85%) live in the rural areas. About 75% of the active rural population depend on agriculture as the main source of their livelihood. Agriculture contribute about 22% to the GDP. Majority of the farmers are either small or marginal. So Credit plays a paramount role to augment the capital base to support agriculture production. With this end in view. Sonali Bank Limited the largest state owned commercial bank has been playing a vital role in the socio-economic development & poverty alleviation since 1973. Keeping in view that Credit is one of the many inputs that complete the cycle of agricultural production Sonali Bank extending rural credit through 1182 branches over the country.

Sonali Bank Limited introduced indirect rural credit in 1973 through the then IRDP (Now BRDB) there after continuing lending in the following programs:

4.3 Micro Credit

Poverty alleviation has appeared to be the focal point of all policy formulation and development issues of the nation. As such, it has been globally accepted as an effective strategy for poverty alleviation in one hand and generating employment opportunities on the other.

In commitment to reduce poverty in urban, semi-urban and rural areas, Sonali Bank Limited has started functioning in Micro Credit through a full pledged micro credit division in its Head Office in the year 2003. Presently, 32 projects/programmes are being run under the control and supervision of this Division. Among all others programmes, Bank-NGO Linkage program and Credit for Urban Women Micro Enterprise Development (CUMED) in Dhaka City, Goat rearing, Lamb rearing, Fruit, Herbal, Medicinal and Nursery Project, Micro- enterprise program- ‘Unmesh’ in Moulavibazar district, MSFSCIP in Kurigram district, Loan for Disable Persons etc. deserve special mention for channelising the financial resources into the various potential avenues of microfinance.

Sonali Bank Limited jointly with Swanirvar Bangladesh, BRDB and ADB has been providing huge investible funds into the different Upazillas within the country. 152 Upazillas have been covered by the Rural Livelihood Programme (RLP). Further, this Division has provided taka 179.09 crore to 68 NGO’s under its widely accepted Bank-NGO Linkage Programme on whole sale basis and whose recovery rate is 100%. Specially, for the disable people Disable Loan Programme has been undertaken to bring the disable section of the people under the micro credit facilities. The Goat Rearing Programme undertaken by this Division has been running with a remarkable impact in reducing the rate of massive- scale rural poverty. Sonali Bank has already disbursed 46.47 crore upto 31 December, 2007.

Further, in order to create employment opportunities and to generate income of the rural people two loan schemes under the name and style “Rural Small Farming Loans scheme ” and “Rural Small business loan” scheme have been introduced in-2004 . In both the programs there is a provision of collateral free loan up to Tk. 50,000/- . In 2006 a new program has been introduced named ‘‘ Daridra Bimochane Sahayta Karmasuchi’’for the extremely ‘Monga’ affected rural people. Moreover, in 2007 a special program has been introduced for SIDR affected 12 areas in which there is a provision of collateral free loan up to TK.20,000/-.

Up to December 2007, Tk. 3299.47 crore has been disbursed under various project/ programs of this Division where as this disbursement figure was Tk. 3056.63 crore up to December 2006. The key features of some running projects/Programs of Micro Credits given as follows:-

4.4 International Banking

Sonali Bank Limited expertise in International Banking has a record of in-house growth over more than half a century. Its pioneer role in handling foreign trade and foreign exchange transactions ever before independence of the country still remains unchallenged. With wide network of branches at home and also a large number of correspondent banks world-wide it is singularly handling the largest volume of export-import business including home-bound remittances.

Products & Services:

Export Credit (Pre-shipment & Post shipment)

Facilitating Supplier’s Credit

LCs (Letters of Credit)

Guarantees in Foreign Currency
– Bid Bond
– Performance Guarantee
– Advance Payment Guarantee.

Bill Purchasing/Discounting

Remittance, collection, purchases & sales of Foreign Currency & Traveller’s Cheques.

NRAT (Non-Resident Account in Taka)

NFCD A/c (Non-Resident Foreign Currency Deposit)

RFCD A/c (Resident Foreign Currency Deposit)

Convertible and Non-convertible Taka Account

Forward contracts

Correspondent Banking Relations

Import Finance:

Sonali Bank Limited supports its customers by providing facilities throughout the import process to ensure smooth running of their business. The facilities are:
a. Import Letter of Credit.
b. Post Import Financing (LIM,LTR etc).
c. Import collection services & Shipping Guarantees.

Interest Rate: 12% to 14%

Export Finance:

Sonali Bank Limited offers extra cover to its customers for whole export process to speed up receipt of proceeds. The facilities are:

a. Export Letters of Credit advising.
b. Pre-shipment Export Financing.
c. Export documents negotiation.
d. Letter of Credit confirmation.

Interest Rate: 7% + 1% service charge

The comparative position of foreign exchange business for the year 2007 and 2008.

(Tk. in Crore)

4.5 Industrial Financing

Credit Schemes:

Long term loan for setting up new industrial units and BMRE of existing units including working capital finance are extended by Sonali Bank Limited to cottage industries, small-medium-large scale industries and also to self-employed persons with a view to creating employment opportunities, deployment of resources, increasing GDP and over-all industrial development of the country. Currently the following credit schemes are on offer by the bank:

Some of the main Credit Schemes:

Industrial Financing for Thrust Sectors.

Sonali Bank Industrial Credit Scheme.

Special Investment Scheme for Cottage and Small Industries.

Financing Large Scale Industries through Banks’ Consortium.

Financing Software Development and Data Processing.

Designated Branches:

About 100 branches including all the corporate and district headquarters branches are designated to handle industrial credit.

Thrust Sectors:

Besides the traditional and oft-trodden sectors, Sonali Bank Limited has also come up with very low rate of interest to finance the following thrust sectors of the economy as identified by the Government:

Software development and data processing.

Agro-based industries (excepting cold storage for preservation of potatoes).

Manufacture of artificial flowers.

Frozen foods.

Gift items (preferably export oriented).

100% export oriented finished leather goods.

100% export oriented jute goods.

Jewelry and Diamond cutting and polishing.

Oil and Gas.

Sericulture and silk industries.

Stuffed Toys (preferably export oriented).

100% export oriented textile industry (excepting garments manufacturing industries).

Other Viable Industrial Sectors:

Composite textile (woven & knit fabrics).

Textile / Acrylic Spinning.

Sweater Industry.

Garments Accessories & Washing Plant.

Denim Fabrics (export oriented).

Tourism / Hotel and Resort facilities.

Hospital & Clinics.

Other Export linkage industries.

Power Generating Plant.

LPG, CNG Filling & Conversion plant.

Pharmaceutical Ind.

Plastic Ind.

Tannery/Rubber Foot wear.

Other highly rewarding appropriate technology based projects.

Interest Rates:

Project/Term Loan : 12.00% to 13.00%

Working Capital : 13.00%

Overall Industrial Credit Position of the Bank as on 31 December, 2008:

(Tk. in Crore)

4.6 Merchant Banking

Sonali Bank Limited, the largest State owned commercial bank in Bangladesh. Began to invest in the secondary market from the month of February 2009.

The growth of institutional investments in capital market of Bangladesh has been far below the expectation. As we know Merchant Bankers can play a vital role in helping to make the stock market transparent and vibrant. Sonali Bank Limited obtained License from the Securities and Exchange Commission in 23 March 2009, to operate in the Capital market as a full-fledged Merchant bank. The terms & conditions imposed by the SEC in operating the Merchant Banking activities are:

1. 1.     There shall be separate unit with separate personnel and designed area for the purpose of Merchant Banking Operation.
2. 2.     The Merchant Banking Unit shall maintain separate books of accounts and financial statements to show clearly the financial position in respect of its Merchant Banking Operation. Financial statements shall be audited by a chartered accountant firm certifying that the relevant rules and guidelines by SEC and other relevant authorities have been strictly adhered to;
3. 3.     The Merchant Banking Unit shall be equipped with necessary modern office equipment for smooth functioning & efficient services to the clients;
4. 4.     All other terms & conditions as laid down in the SEC (Merchant Banker & Portfolio Manager) Regulations 1996, SEO 1969, SEC Rules 1993 and any amendment thereof from time to time shall be adhered to at all times.

As stipulated in the Securities and Exchange Commission (Merchant Banker and Portfolio Manager) regulations 1996, the services of issue management, portfolio management, underwriting of shares and securities and advisory services fall under the purview of Merchant Banking Operation. Sonali Bank Limited has been going with Merchant Banking Operation since 14 September 2009 at 11/A, Sara Tower (11^th Floor), Toyeenbee Circular Road, Motijheel, Dhaka. It has a Merchant Banking Management Committee to manage & take quick decision of merchant banking activities.

SBL provides margin loan to the investors at the ratio- 1:25 (previously 1:1.5) and we always abide by the restrictions, rules & regulations of Securities and Exchange Commission. For example, the recent SEC restriction to provide margin loan to the company, which have more than 50% of P/E ratio. SBL doesn’t provide margin loan for ‘Z’ category shares, Mutual funds & some risky shares. SBL always counsel the clients to follow the fundamental factors of investment. Firstly, SBL suggest taking an overview of the desired company in which the investors want to invest, such as company’s background, authorized capital, Paid up Capital, Assets & Liabilities, last five years Net Profit, Dividends, Earning per Share, Net Asset Value, P/E ratio, highest & the lowest price of the share etc. Thus an investor can know the Company’s Performance & Management Efficiency to take an investment decision. After all these, investors can take his/her decision at his/her risk to invest in any company’s share.

Now SBL has a workstation of ICB named ISTCL for the trading purpose. So far SBL is going to underwrite the Tk.100 crore IPO of Janata Bank Limited. SBL have been offered to take private placement of Beximco Pharmaceuticals to purchase preference shares. We are participating in the upcoming IPO of JBL as Banker’s to the issue.

As per BPRD Circular no-12 of Bangladesh Bank on 12^th October 2009 every merchant Banking Unit of Commercial bank should be converted into a subsidiary company. We are already got the permission of Bangladesh Bank. In this regard a Memorandum and Articles of association have been approved by the Board of Directors of Sonali Bank Limited. Sonali Bank Limited has submitted the name of the subsidiary company as “Sonali Investment Limited” to the registrar of joint stock companies and also got the Name clearance letter. There will be 6(six) Directors for Sonali Investment Limited including 4(four) Directors represented from Sonali Bank Limited & 2 independent Directors from other than Sonali Bank Limited. Human resources will be employed from Sonali Bank Limited on deputation. We hope Sonali Investment Limited will also become the Leading Merchant Bank like the Sonali Bank Limited, a Leading Commercial bank in Bangladesh.

The data regarding the Merchant Banking operations in the Merchant Banking Unit of Sonali Bank Ltd is given below:

Obtained License from SEC                              :   23   March   2009

Started Merchant Banking Operation            :  14 September 2009

Number of Accounts opened up to date       :   About 200

Size of the Investors Portfolio                         :  Tk. 150.50 million

Income of SBL from Merchant Banking

(Tk. In millions)

  Loan Ratio                                                     :    1: 1.5 (at present 1:1)

 Rate of Interest                                          :     13%

 Management Fee                                       :     1%

To operate the Merchant Banking activities Sonali Bank Ltd have purchased the unique soft ware namely ‘’m bank” developed by the renowned software Vendor M/S Leads Corporation.

The Merchant Banking Unit will start its operation as a subsidiary company under the name of “Sonali Investment Limited” very soon. And we believe that it will be able to hold the position of the leading Merchant Bank as it has been doing since it started its journey in the banking arena.

4.7 SME Banking

To reduce poverty within 2015 Sonali Bank Ltd. Has start a service which is SME loan. By offering this product Sonali Bank Ltd. Helps government to increase job opportunity as well as increase GDP.

Objectives of SME Loan-

Help government to remove poverty.

Earn much currency by Export Import business to government.

Helps woman entrepreneur to be self-independent by providing loan.

Industrialization with employment opportunity.

Requirements for getting Loan-

Minimum 2 years business experience.

Entrepreneur must be educated & healthy and age must be within 18-60.

Women entrepreneur will get first preference.

Entrepreneur must be Bangladeshi citizen.

Types of product for getting SME loan-

Export products-

1. Fringing Plant for fish.
2. Tanaree business.
3. Export furniture.

Import products-

1. Xining Mill.
2. Garments accessories.
3. Washing plant, Packaging.

Loan Limit-

Depends on business type loan can be 50000-100000000

Duration and Interest rate-

Duration depends on business type. But in case of current assets 1 year and in case of term loan 3-7 years. Interest rate is 13%.

4.8 Online Banking

1. Branch Computerization: 267 branches are on live operation. Out of 1182 branches at home, 1169 branches have already been entered in the automation network.

2. Foreign Remittance : Bank’s own in-house software “Remittance Management System” (RMS+), having, among others, the feature of paying foreign remittance instantly over the counter is being implemented at all branches. This web based software provides digital services to the expatriates through its unique advantage of sending confirmation message to the mobile phone of the remitter/beneficiary.

3. ATM: Sonali Bank Limited is a member of Q-Cash ATM network. At present the bank has 12 ATM booths. Establishment of 43 more ATM is on. Sonali Bank’s ATM cardholders enjoy the access to the ATMs and POS of Dutch Bangla Bank Ltd. and Brac Bank Ltd. besides those of Q-Cash consortium. Sonali Bank recently launched Credit Card.

Features:

Sonali Bank Ready Cash Card is a Debit Card.

Cardholder can easily pay utility bills like – Water, Telephone, Gas etc.

It is easy to remit funds among the participating branches of the Bank.

Transaction beyond working hours.

It is a riskless Cash Carrying facility.

Cashless purchase can be made form specific merchandise points.

Only computerized Branches of Dhaka City will deal Ready Cash Card.

Branches of other Cities and Towns will introduce Sonali Bank Ready Cash Card in due course.

4. Online and SMS Banking: At present    34   branches of Sonali Banks are included in the Online Any Branch Banking (ABB) network. The bank is seriously working on connecting all branches in the Real-time Online Banking network gradually. Branches having ABB facility are also rendering SMS banking services.

5. SWIFT: SWIFT facilities are available in Bank’s Head Office and in 21 designated branches.

4.9 Ancillary Services

Sonali Bank Limited offers multiple special services with its network of branches throughout the country in addition to its normal banking operations.

Collection:

Gas bills.

Electricity bills.

Telephone bills.

Water/Sewerage bills.

Municipal holding Tax.

Passport fees, visa fees and Travel tax.

Customs & Excise duties.

Source tax and VAT.

Jakat fund.

Hajj deposit.

Land development tax.

Payment:

Pension of employees of Government and other Corporate Bodies.

Bangladesh Bank employees’ pension.

Army pension.

British pension.

Students’ stipend/scholarship.

Govt. & Non-Govt. Teachers’ salary.

Food procurement bill on behalf of the Govt.

Social Services:

Old age allowances.

Widows, divorcees and destitute women allowances.

Freedom Fighters’ allowances.

Rehabilitation allowances for acid survival women.

Maternal allowances for poor women.

Disability allowances.

Sale & Encashment/Purchase:

Savings Certificates.

ICB Unit Certificates.

Prize Bonds.

Wage Earner’s Development Bonds.

US Dollar Premium & Investment Bond.

Lottery tickets of different Semi-Govt. and Autonomous Bodies.

Sanchaypatra.

Public Service Commission’s application form.

Judicial Service Commission’s application form.

Exchange of soiled / torn notes.

4.10 Miscellaneous Services

Bank A/C information of tax payee client according to demand of NBR.

Local Governance Support Project.

Enlist of Non Government Insurance Company.

Locker Service is provided in some branches of Sonali Bank Limited. Customers may avail this service and secure their valuables.

5.1 Rural Deposit Scheme (RDS):

A deposit scheme for the rural or people live under middle-class. Monthly deposits: 100,200,300,400,500 and 1000Tk.

Duration of the deposit- 7 years & rate of interest- 9%

Loan against account:  When any particular account duration reaches to 1 year and on that account if there are 5000 Tk. Balance money then the account-holder can get maximum 80% overdraft opportunity. RDS can be opened in those branches of Sonali Bank which are located in the rural.

5.2 Marriage Savings Scheme (MSS):

Duration of the deposit: 10 years & interest- 8.5%

Loan opportunity against  account:  When any particular account duration reaches to 1 year and on that account if there are 10000Tk. balance money then the account-holder can get maximum 80% overdraft opportunity. MSS can be opened in all branches of Sonali Bank Limited.

Bonus only is given after the continuous operation by the account holder.

5.3 Monthly Earning Scheme (MES):

Duration of the deposit:  3 and 5 years.

Amount of deposits: 50000 or 100000.

Rate of interest: For 3 years 9% and for 5 years 10%.

Loan opportunity against account: When 80% overdraft opportunity on a particular account. MES can be opened in all branches of Sonali Bank. Bonus amount can be taken monthly wise.

5.4 Double Benefit Scheme (DBS):

Duration of the deposit:  8 years.

Amount of deposits: 5000 minimum.

Rate of interest given yearly basis as following:

All types of vat according to government rule will be deducted from the account.

Rule for Double Benefit Scheme-

This account can be open in all the branches of Sonali Bank Limited. But account holder must be age of 18 or above.

An account holder can get up to 80% loan against his deposit in the account.

In case of closing account customer can any time apply to the Manager (Where account was opened), but a charge of 250 Tk. will be applicable.

5.5 Medicare Deposit Scheme (MDS):

Duration: 10 years.

Amount of monthly saving: 500-10000 Tk. & rate of interest is yearly 8%.

Date of payment: 10 -20 of every month.

5.6 Sonali Deposit Scheme (SDS):

Duration: 5 years.

Amount of monthly savings-500-10000 Tk. & rate of interest is yearly 8.5%.

Date of payment: 16-25 of every month.

5.7 Education Deposit Scheme (EDS):

Duration: 10 years.

Amount of monthly savings: 500-10000 Tk. & rate of interest is yearly 8%.

Date of payment: 10-15 of every month.

Requirement for the special scheme:

Photocopy of national ID of both nominee and client. 2copy of passport size photograph which is attached by introducer and one copy of photograph of nominee which is attached by the client.

Valid introducer of particular branch.

Clients must be 18.

5.8 Consumer Credit:

With the steady development of the industrial and the service sectors in Bangladesh, the level of personal consumption has recorded progressive growth. To cater to the growing demand for consumer durables, Sonali Bank Limited has launched the “Consumers’ Credit Scheme”, with the following features:

5.9 Loan Facility for Diagonstic Center:

Sonali Bank Limited has launched a new loan scheme for “Diagnostic Center” to promote medical facilities. The salient features of the scheme are as follows:

5.10 Special Small Credit Scheme:

Sonali Bank Limited has launched a loan scheme for “Teachers and Employees” to enhance their living standards. The salient features of the scheme are as follows:

5.11 Foreign Employment Credit Scheme:

Sonali Bank Limited has launched a loan scheme for “Foreign employment” to bear their air heir, commission and charges for foreign employment agency. The salient features of the scheme are as follows:

Findings

As a largest commercial bank and the agent of Bangladesh Bank Sonali Bank has to do various types of work without thinking about the profit. For this reason we have seen that in some cases bank has doing loss, but this loss we directly cannot say that bank failing los, this is happening only for helping the nation.

On the other hand we have seen that the bank profit increasing rate is poor but increasing. The bank is highly liquid and earns much profit on owner’s equity. Bank’s operating efficiency is good. EPS is increasing double per year and earning spread is also increasing.

So after all we can say that as a nationalized bank commercial bank Sonali Bank Limited is a bank which is earning better than other nationalized bank.

Conlusion & Recomendation

Conclusion:

As a bank Sonali Bank Limited has to do a lot of things for the betterment of the country. The Bank is strongly positioned in the market and with its core strengths it can match shareholders’ expectations and thus raise their wealth in future through ethical banking and best pricing. Thus, it has to take initiative so that it can fulfill the desire of the govt. as well as people. It will enhance more public services and build up working teams to provide the best services to its valuable customers. It must be run in organized way and discipline must be ensured in all sphere of its performance. Efficient export team, import team and remittance team must be formed and perform duties properly. More training, computerization, data collection, market analysis and swiftness in servicing are essentially required. To do these the recommended suggestions can be used. Although it is theoretical suggestions, it is not valueless. It has great impact on the banking business and other sectors of the economy. For this, govt. help is essential and it is expected that govt. will broaden its hand for implementing the recommendations for the welfare of the people of Bangladesh.

Recommendation:

The Top management of Sonali Bank Limited should be more effective to the employee then current situation. Because they should take care the branch level employee’s benefits, opportunities etc.

The bank has highly skilled employee in the branch level. But the bank should be able to utilize these employees at appropriate way to take out the bank’s output.

The website design is need to improve. Therefore, the website should be changed and can put more information about the bank. The existing design cannot capture the customer’s attention.

The cheque’s design is poor. The good looking cheque design can motivate the customer.

The human resource division can be more effective. Because this human resource department should think about the employee benefit much.

In the training institute, the training process should be used latest technology to provide to the trainee. The bank should give training about the office package, basic idea on computer and internet.

In the branch level when employees could transfer to another department during that time that employee is needed at least ten days training according on the transfer position.

The higher management should be more effective about the employee, to take right strategy, right decision making.

In the branch level employee is working so many extra time, so management should provide some extra incentives to motivate the employee.

On-line banking is coming soon so the responsible employee should be trained effectively.

The training evaluation process and form is to be more modernized.

Physical and technological facilities should be increased in evaluating credit proposals.

Infrastructure should be modernized.

The cost of fund needs to be minimized.

The gap between employees and customers will be reduced through arranging meetings.

Appendix: A

BIBLIOGRAPHY

http://www.sonalibank.com.bd/

http://www.sonalibank.com.bd/webs/catalog/sonali_bank_uk_ltd/

http://www.sonalibank.co.uk/

http://www.sonalibank.co.uk/wage_earners.asp

http://www.sonalibank.co.uk/bonds_premium.asp

http://www.sonalibank.co.uk/trade_finance.asp

http://wikipedia.com

http://www.investorswords.com/401/bank/

http://www.bangladesh-bank.org/fnansys/bankfi/

http://www.reportbd.com

http://www.Bangladeshtrades.com

Appendix: B

Abbreviations

The abbreviation that has been used in the report is as follows:

GATT- General Agreement on Tariffs and Trade.

WTO- World Trade Organization.

NAFTA- North American Free Trade Agreement.

SAFTA- South Asian Free Trade Agreement.

DD- Demand Draft.

TT- Telegraphic Transfer.

SWIFT- Society for World-Wide Interbank Financial Telecommunication.

IPO- Initial Public Offering.

FDR- Foreign Direct Receipts.

LC- Letter of Credit.

SME- Small and Medium Enterprise.

ROA- Return on Total Assets.

NIM- Net Interest Margin.

EPS- Earnings Per Share.

ATM- Automated Teller Machine.

EVA- Economic Value Added.

ES- Earning Spread.