Banks in Sri Lanka - Visit in Sri Lanka (2024)

Bank of Ceylon (BOC)

Bank of Ceylon is a prominent commercial bank in Sri Lanka that is owned by the government. Sir Ernest de Silva was the first chairman of the Bank of Ceylon (BOC), which was established in 1939. Its headquarters are in Colombo’s distinctive cylindrical building.

Within the country, the bank has 628 branches, 689 automated teller machines (ATMs), a 123 CDM network, and 15 regional lending centers. It also features a 24-hour phone center and a 24-hour branch at its Colombo headquarters.

The bank has an off-shore banking unit in its home office in Colombo, three branches in Male, Chennai, and Seychelles, and a subsidiary in London, in addition to its local presence.

People’s Bank

Sri Lanka’s People’s Bank is a state-owned commercial bank. Sri Lanka’s second-largest commercial bank. Its headquarters are on Sir Chittampalam A. Gardiner Street in Colombo, where it was founded on July 1, 1961. With a network of 739 local offices, service centers, and an asset base of about LKR 2.0 trillion by 2021 and over 14 million customers, the bank provides both retail and corporate banking services. Fitch Ratings assigned People’s Bank an AA+ national long-term rating. People’s Bank has received numerous awards, including “Green Plus” and “Carbon Conscious Award”. People’s Bank was named the best performing bank in Sri Lanka. Small and medium-sized enterprises are the bank’s primary clients.

National Development Bank (NDB)

The National Development Bank PLC (abbreviated as NDB Bank) is a Colombo-based Sri Lankan banking and financial services corporation. In 1979, it started as a state-owned development finance institution. National Development Bank of Sri Lanka Act No 2 of 1979 established the forerunner of National Development Bank PLC, the “National Development Bank of Sri Lanka,” as a 100% state-owned entity, in 1979. NDB was privatized and listed on the Colombo Stock Exchange after a change of ownership structure in 1993. NDB purchased NDB Bank Limited’s business and activities in 2005, converting it from a Licensed Specialized Bank to a Licensed Commercial Bank.

Hatton National Bank (HNB)

Hatton National Bank is a leading private commercial bank in Sri Lanka, with 251 branches throughout the country. From 2007 to 2017, the Asian Banker Magazine named the bank the “Best Retail Bank in Sri Lanka” ten times.

HNB was selected Bank of the Year by the UK’s Banker Magazine in 2012, 2013, and 2017. The Banker has HNB listed among the Top 1000 banks in the world. Retail banking, corporate banking, international banking, treasury, and project financing are all areas where HNB is active.

Their vision and mission are to be the recognized leader and preferred partner in providing financial solutions by bringing together entrepreneurial spirit, empowered people, and cutting-edge technology to consistently exceed stakeholder expectations.

Commercial Bank

The Commercial Bank of Ceylon PLC, usually known as ComBank, is a private-owned commercial bank in Sri Lanka. It is a public limited company that trades on the Colombo Stock Exchange. In terms of net worth and capital, it is the largest private bank in Sri Lanka. In terms of total net assets, the bank is currently the third largest in Sri Lanka, trailing only Bank of Ceylon and People’s Bank (both are state commercial banks). According to the Central Bank of Sri Lanka, it is also the only private sector licensed bank in the country to be designated as a higher-tier domestic systemically important bank.

When it first achieved the accomplishment in 2008, it became the first Sri Lankan bank to be classified among the top 1000 banks in the world, according to The Banker. From 2008 to 2021, Commercial Bank was ranked among the top 1000 banks in the world for nearly 11 years in a row.

For numerous years, the bank has stressed the need of achieving sustainability through its banking operations and policies. The bank’s sustainability efforts are divided into three categories: strategic business alignment, culture and footprint, and responsibilities beyond the banking industry.

Sampath Bank

Sampath Bank PLC is a registered commercial bank with 229 branches and 373 ATMs in Sri Lanka. It was founded in 1987. It was selected “Bank of the Year” by “The Banker” of Financial Times Limited – London for the second year in a straight. The bank was established in 1988 as Investment and Credit Bank Limited. Sampath was the name given to the bank. For the first time in the country, Sampath Bank began operating a multi-point network of automated teller machines in 1988, dubbed “Sampath Electronic Teller” or “SET.” With the rise of ATM banking, MasterCard (in 1989), Personal Banking Units, and the Uni-Banking System were introduced. In 1997, the bank was the first in South Asia to introduce debit cards, and it was also the first in Sri Lanka to provide a debit card immediately upon account opening. Sampath Bank created the first Cheque Imaging and Truncating facility in Sri Lanka in 2004. In terms of total assets, the bank has been the third largest private sector bank in Sri Lanka since 2009.

Nations Trust Bank (NTB)

Nations Trust Bank was founded in 1999 after acquiring Overseas Trust Bank Ltd’s Colombo branch. The initial public offering’s oversubscription was a notable highlight of their market launch.

Nations Trust Bank PLC is one of Sri Lanka’s top 15 business enterprises, according to Business Today Magazine, offering a comprehensive range of financial goods and services to a diverse customer base. Nations Trust is also the bank that created FriMi, Sri Lanka’s first totally digital banking experience. The bank has 96 branches across the country, as well as an ATM network with 127 locations and 48 Cash Deposit & Withdrawal Machines, as well as more than 3,700 ATMs on the Lanka Pay Network. It is also the sole issuer and acquirer of American Express® Cards in Sri Lanka.

Seylan Bank

Seylan Bank PLC is a Sri Lankan commercial bank that is owned by the government. Seylan Merchant Bank Limited, the company’s initial subsidiary, was founded in 1992. It has locations in both urban and rural areas of Sri Lanka. In 2020, Seylan Bank has 167 banking sites across the island, 3000 employees, a 205-unit ATM network serving strategic locations, and nine branches offering 365-day banking. The bank was established as a fully licensed commercial bank with a shareholder base. Seylan Bank was established as a Public Limited Liability Company on August 28, 1987. Seylan Bank was the first bank in Sri Lanka to issue a credit card, and they also had a connection with Western Union, a global money transfer system.

DFCC Bank

DFCC Bank, established in 1955, is one of Asia’s earliest development banks. The DFCC Bank was established under an act of Parliament to promote post-independence industrial growth through private sector participation. It is a unique institution; private in form but more like a public-private partnership in attitude.

DFCC Bank is delighted to have been the wind beneath the wings of many of the country’s trailblazing entrepreneurs and businesses, particularly during their early and perilous start-up stages. Many of them are now major participants in industries like agriculture, apparel, construction, food and beverage, healthcare, manufacturing, power, telecommunications, and tourism.

In January 2015, DFCC became DFCC Bank PLC, a public quoted company registered under the Companies Act No. 07 of 2007. Customers are served by nearly 2000 devoted personnel at DFCC Bank’s 139 branches located around the island. Our customers can use the LankaPay ATM network to access over 4,500 ATMs across the nation, and they can use the Bank’s services via online and mobile banking, as well as DFCC MySpace, the Bank’s self-banking solution.

Amana Bank

Amana Bank is the first and only licensed commercial bank in Sri Lanka to operate entirely under Islamic banking principles and to be completely free of interest-based transactions, providing a full range of retail, SME, corporate, treasury, and trade financing services.

With the mission of enabling growth and enriching lives, the bank serves over 250,000 customers through a growing network of 28 branches and 4000+ ATM access points, as well as offering a variety of customer conveniences such as Internet and Mobile Banking, Online Account Opening, VISA Debit Card with SMS alerts, 365 Day Banking, Saturday Banking, Extended Banking Hours, 24×7 Ladies-only cash deposit machines and banking units are available.

The IDB Group of Jeddah owns 29.97 percent of Amana Bank PLC, which is a stand-alone financial business regulated by the Central Bank of Sri Lanka and traded on the Colombo Stock Exchange. The IDB Group is ‘AAA’ rated multilateral development financial agency with about USD 150 billion in capital and 57 member countries. Amna Bank is making strong inroads within the Sri Lankan banking industry, and is focused on capitalising on the growing market potential for its unique banking model across the country, thanks to the stability and support of the IDB Group and other strategic shareholders such as Bank Islam Malaysia, AB Bank of Bangladesh, and Akbar Brothers.

Pan Asia Bank

The Pan Asia Banking Corporation is a Sri Lankan public limited business. The company now has 85 locations in Sri Lanka. A public limited liability company founded in Sri Lanka on March 6, 1995, under the Companies Act No.17 of 1982, and later re-registered under the Companies Act No.07 of 2007. A Colombo Stock Exchange-listed commercial bank regulated under the Banking Act No.30 of 1988. Dhammika Perera is a big shareholder.

Cargills Bank

In Sri Lanka, Cargills Bank Limited is a licensed commercial bank. [3] It acquired its license to run domestic and offshore banking activity from the Central Bank of Sri Lanka on January 21, 2014, and was ceremonially opened on June 30, 2014. The bank now has 17 branches across the island, with its headquarters in Kollupitiya.

Cargills PLC and C.T Holdings PLC, both extremely diversified companies with interests in entertainment, hotel, property development, manufacturing, food processing, and retailing, are the largest owners in Cargills Bank Limited. Cargills Ceylon PLC, a Sri Lankan corporation founded in 1844, is based on strong values and ethics.

Cargills Bank is also well-supported by investments from top companies in the country, whose brands, financial performance, market share, and commercial foresight are among the best in their areas. Employees Provident Fund (EPF), Melwa Group, MAS Capital (Pvt) Ltd, Lalan Rubber Holdings (Pvt) Ltd, and AIA Holdings Lanka (Pvt) Ltd are the most important among them.

Union Bank of Colombo

Union Bank of Colombo PLC is one of Sri Lanka’s top five banks by market capitalization and one of the fastest growing Financial Services Groups in the country. The eighth indigenous commercial bank, Union Bank of Colombo, was founded in 1995 with DFCC Bank and the Great Eastern Life Assurance Company Limited as founding partners. The bank had 66 offices and 121 automated teller machines (ATM) around the island nation as of 2018. The bank caters to both the retail and corporate markets with a variety of goods and services.

National Saving Bank (NSB)

Sri Lanka’s National Savings Bank is a state-owned savings bank. The National Savings Bank Act No. 30 of 1971 incorporated it in Ceylon, and the Banking Act No. 30 of 1988 accorded it the status of Licensed Specialised Bank. NSB has 227 locations. It also conducts postal banking with the help of the Sri Lanka Post’s 643 post offices and 3,4012 sub-post offices.

Sanasa Development Bank (SDB)

SDB bank, formerly Sanasa Development Bank, is a Sri Lankan co-operative bank that was established in 1997. In Sri Lanka, this bank has opened 94 branches. The Central Bank of Sri Lanka granted SDB Bank the status of Licensed Specialized Bank in 1997. SDB bank’s reach grew significantly in 2017 when it received a capital injection of USD 22 million from three top-tier global organizations: the International Finance Corporation (IFC), the Netherlands Development Finance Company (FMO), and SBI Holdings.

In 2019, SDB Bank has evolved into a modern, innovative bank that is widely regarded as one of the country’s top corporate banks. SDB bank’s acquisition of the digital payments app UPay in mid-2019 reflects the bank’s commitment to innovation, which includes a variety of mobile payment alternatives, lifestyle comforts, and POS services for both urban and rural consumers.By utilizing its strong co-operative society tradition and present network of 94 branches island wide, SDB bank continues to affect visible change at the rural and grass-roots level, and hence Sri Lanka’s socio-economic progress as a whole.