Guest article from Bangladesh Bank

In February 2026, Bangladesh Bank introduced comprehensive Student Banking Guidelines to structure and strengthen youth financial inclusion. The guidelines aim to make student banking activities across the country more transparent, dynamic, and awareness-oriented, while aligning formal financial services with educational development.

A key feature of the new guidelines is the transition from ‘School Banking’ to ‘Student Banking.’ The beneficiary age limit has been extended to 25 years, allowing students under the age of 18 to operate accounts through a parent or guardian, while those aged 18-25 can manage accounts independently under appropriate safeguards. To ensure broad accessibility, accounts are structured to minimize entry barriers for students from diverse socio-economic backgrounds. Features include a minimum deposit requirement of as little as BDT 100, along with minimal or fully waived service charges.

The guidelines place a strong emphasis on targeted inclusivity by directing scheduled banks to bring historically underserved groups-specifically marginalized communities, ethnic minorities, and female students-into the formal financial ecosystem. By promoting financial literacy, encouraging savings, and expanding access to digital banking, this forward-looking policy lays the foundation for a financially empowered generation and reinforces Bangladesh Bank’s commitment to inclusive financial development.