Women’s Participation in Banks and Financial Institutions Grows Slowly, Major Leadership Gap Remains

Although women’s employment in the country’s banks and financial institutions is gradually increasing, their representation at leadership levels remains unsatisfactory. According to a Bangladesh Bank report, women account for 35,971 of the 217,818 employees working in 61 scheduled banks, representing 16.51 percent of the total workforce.

According to the report, private commercial banks have the highest number of female employees, with 23,524 women working in these banks, accounting for around 65 percent of all female employees in the country’s banking sector. Although foreign banks have a relatively smaller number of female employees, their female workforce participation is the highest at 24.81 percent. Women account for 17.06 percent of employees in state-owned commercial banks and 16.16 percent in specialized banks.

Bangladesh Bank’s analysis shows that the number of female employees in the banking sector increased by 910 between January-June this year and July-December 2025, rising from 35,061 to 35,971. However, during the same period, some women-friendly facilities—particularly childcare centers, transportation after working hours and training programs—declined slightly.

The report said women’s representation at the highest level of decision-making remains low. Women account for only 13.14 percent of bank board members. While their participation is 16.99 percent at the entry level and 16.37 percent at the middle level, it falls to just 10.55 percent at senior positions. This means that although women’s presence is relatively higher at the beginning of their careers, their participation declines significantly with promotion.

The age-based analysis shows a similar trend. Women under 30 account for 21.10 percent of employees, but their share falls to 11 percent among those over 50. The report also noted that job turnover among female employees is comparatively higher in foreign banks.

The report also highlighted some positive developments in improving the work environment. All scheduled banks provide six months of maternity leave and have policies on preventing and raising awareness about sexual harassment. In addition, 37 banks have childcare centers, 36 provide transportation facilities for female employees after working hours, and 49 organize gender equality awareness training.

Meanwhile, women account for 17.05 percent of the total workforce in 35 financial institutions. In other words, there is one female employee for every four male employees.

Women’s representation on the boards of financial institutions stands at 14.78 percent. Their participation is 19.76 percent at the entry level, 12.86 percent at the middle level and only 8.32 percent at senior positions. Here too, women’s representation in senior leadership remains significantly low.

According to the report, all financial institutions provide six months of maternity leave. Thirty-four institutions have sexual harassment prevention policies, 21 provide gender equality training and 23 offer transportation facilities for female employees. However, only four financial institutions have childcare centers.

In its overall assessment, Bangladesh Bank said that although various policy initiatives have been taken to increase women’s participation in banks and financial institutions, their representation at leadership levels remains limited. It also said childcare centers, safe transportation and training facilities for working women need to be expanded further. The central bank will continue to regularly monitor such indicators to ensure gender equality and provide necessary guidance and encouragement to the institutions concerned, the report said.