Women run two branches of Southeast Bank

Once it was rare that women were working in the banking sector. But time has changed now as banks not only recruit women as employees but also have introduced specialised products for women whether they are entrepreneurs, executives or housewives.

Southeast Bank has gone one step further and set an example as two of its branches are entirely run by female employees. From security guards to branch manager, all posts are held by women.

The bank has established these two branches in Moghbazar and Dhanmondi in Dhaka in recent years. The branches have outperformed many of the bank's general branches, as women borrowers found to be defaulting less compared to their male counterparts, according to bankers of the two branches.

“We took it up as a challenge that we have to make the branch profitable,” said an official of the bank's Moghbazar branch.

The Moghbazar branch was opened in 2014 with an aim to bring women under the banking services. The branch has six officials and all of them are women. Initially their target was to serve only women clients. But now the branch caters to all types of clients.

“We don't face any difficulty in operating our activities by female employees,” said an official of the bank's Dhanmondi branch.