# BRAC Bank (Astha App)

> Source: https://docs.barcoder.ai/docs/wallets/brac-bank
> research date 2026-05-30 · extracted at 2026-10-07
> Publisher: Barcoder — encyclopedia of QR, barcode and payment-code standards

Specifications:
- [BRAC Bank — official](https://www.bracbank.com/)

## Overview

**BRAC Bank (Astha App)** is **Bangladeshi commercial bank** + **BRAC NGO Bangladesh majority controlling** + **Astha 1M users Aug 2025** + **Astha Tk20,000 crore monthly transactions Jul 2025 - highest ever for any Bangladesh banking app** + **53% Astha users 21-35 age range** + **bKash QR + Bangla QR + cardless ATM withdrawal via code** <sup>[1][1], [2][2], [Bangladesh report](https://docs.barcoder.ai/docs/payments/BD)</sup>. **2025 baseline**: BRAC Bank Astha 1M users Aug 2025 (up from 900,000+ May 2025) + Astha Tk20,000 crore monthly transactions Jul 2025 - highest ever for any Bangladesh banking app + 53% Astha users in 21-35 age range; **'Astha' app achieves major milestone with 1m users Aug 2025** distinctive Bangladeshi mobile banking milestone; **Astha set a new benchmark in the industry by facilitating Tk20,000 crore in monthly transactions Jul 2025—the highest ever for a banking app in the Bangladesh banking sector** distinctive Bangladeshi mobile banking transaction volume record.

**Distinctive BRAC Bank positioning**:
- **Bangladeshi commercial bank** (BRAC Bank PLC; DSE + CSE: BRACBANK; BRAC NGO Bangladesh majority controlling)
- **BRAC NGO Bangladesh majority controlling** distinctive Bangladeshi NGO-bank ecosystem (largest NGO in the world by number of employees)
- **Astha 1M users Aug 2025** distinctive Bangladeshi mobile banking milestone (up from 900,000+ May 2025)
- **Astha Tk20,000 crore monthly transactions Jul 2025 - highest ever for any Bangladesh banking app** distinctive Bangladeshi mobile banking transaction volume record
- **53% Astha users 21-35 age range** distinctive Bangladeshi mobile banking youth demographic prioritising autonomy, convenience, and seamless technological integration
- **bKash QR + Bangla QR + cardless ATM withdrawal via code** distinctive Bangladeshi mobile banking comprehensive features
- **Jul 4 2001 BRAC Bank PLC founding as fully Bangladeshi commercial bank by BRAC NGO + Shorebank Corp USA + International Finance Corporation IFC** distinctive Bangladeshi NGO-bank heritage
- **Astha real-time fund transfers through NPSB + BEFTN + RTGS + VISA Direct + wallet partners + bill payments + mobile top-ups + Bangla QR and bKash QR payments + cardless ATM withdrawals via code + standing instructions for recurring payments** distinctive Bangladeshi mobile banking comprehensive offering

## History

**1972 — BRAC NGO Bangladesh founded by Fazle Hasan Abed** distinctive Bangladeshi NGO heritage (largest NGO in the world by number of employees).

**Jul 4 2001 — BRAC Bank PLC founded as fully Bangladeshi commercial bank by BRAC NGO + Shorebank Corp USA + International Finance Corporation IFC** distinctive Bangladeshi NGO-bank heritage.

**2007 — BRAC Bank DSE + CSE IPO under ticker BRACBANK** distinctive Bangladeshi commercial banking listings.

**2018 — BRAC Bank Astha mobile banking app launch** distinctive Bangladeshi mobile banking strategy.

**May 2025 — BRAC Bank Astha 900,000+ customers**.

**Jul 2025 — BRAC Bank Astha Tk20,000 crore monthly transactions - highest ever for any Bangladesh banking app** <sup>[1][1], [2][2]</sup>.

**Aug 2025 — BRAC Bank Astha 1M users milestone + 53% Astha users 21-35 age range** <sup>[3][3]</sup>.

## Ownership & operator

**Operating entity**: **BRAC Bank PLC** (DSE: BRACBANK; CSE: BRACBANK; Bangladeshi commercial bank since 2001; BRAC NGO Bangladesh majority controlling).

**Major shareholders**: **BRAC NGO Bangladesh (largest NGO in the world by number of employees; founded 1972 by Fazle Hasan Abed) majority controlling + International Finance Corporation IFC + Bangladeshi retail + institutional + foreign investors**.

**Regulators**: **Bangladesh Bank (BB) + BSEC (Bangladesh Securities and Exchange Commission)**.

## Technical integration

BRAC Bank Astha mobile banking app (iOS + Android; 1M users Aug 2025; Tk20,000 crore monthly transactions Jul 2025) + bracbank.com online + BRAC Bank branch network across Bangladesh + BRAC Bank Visa + Mastercard cards; NPSB (National Payment Switch Bangladesh) + BEFTN (Bangladesh Electronic Funds Transfer Network) + RTGS + Bangla QR + bKash QR; **Astha real-time fund transfers through NPSB + BEFTN + RTGS + VISA Direct + wallet partners + bill payments + mobile top-ups + Bangla QR and bKash QR payments + cardless ATM withdrawals via code + standing instructions for recurring payments** distinctive Bangladeshi mobile banking comprehensive offering.

## Users & growth

**Aug 2025**: BRAC Bank Astha 1M users milestone + 53% Astha users 21-35 age range; **Jul 2025**: BRAC Bank Astha Tk20,000 crore monthly transactions - highest ever for any Bangladesh banking app; **May 2025**: BRAC Bank Astha 900,000+ customers.

## Use cases

Bangladeshi retail + private + SME + commercial + youth (21-35 age range) banking via BRAC Bank Astha mobile + bracbank.com online + BRAC Bank branch network across Bangladesh + Visa/Mastercard cards; NPSB + BEFTN + RTGS + Bangla QR + bKash QR; **Astha real-time fund transfers through NPSB + BEFTN + RTGS + VISA Direct + wallet partners + bill payments + mobile top-ups + Bangla QR and bKash QR payments + cardless ATM withdrawals via code + standing instructions for recurring payments** distinctive Bangladeshi mobile banking comprehensive offering.

## Implementations & partners

**Operator**: BRAC Bank PLC (DSE: BRACBANK; CSE: BRACBANK; Bangladeshi commercial bank since 2001; BRAC NGO Bangladesh majority controlling); BRAC NGO Bangladesh (largest NGO in the world by number of employees; founded 1972 by Fazle Hasan Abed) majority controlling + International Finance Corporation IFC + Bangladeshi retail + institutional + foreign investors.

**BRAC NGO Bangladesh ecosystem**: **BRAC NGO Bangladesh (largest NGO in the world by number of employees; founded 1972 by Fazle Hasan Abed) majority controlling BRAC Bank** + BRAC University + BRAC Education + BRAC Health + BRAC Microfinance + BRAC International + bKash (BRAC Bank + Money in Motion LLC USA + Ant Group + IFC subsidiary) distinctive Bangladeshi NGO-bank ecosystem.

**bKash partnership**: [bKash](https://docs.barcoder.ai/docs/wallets/bkash) (Bangladeshi bKash mobile money; BRAC Bank parent + Money in Motion LLC USA + Ant Group + IFC + others investors; ~70M+ users; Bangladesh's #1 mobile financial service).

**Major Bangladeshi banking + payments competitors**: [The City Bank Bangladesh](https://docs.barcoder.ai/docs/wallets/city-bank-bd) (The City Bank PLC; DSE: CITYBANK; Bangladeshi commercial bank) + United Commercial Bank (United Commercial Bank PLC; DSE: UCBL; Bangladeshi commercial bank) + [Islami Bank Bangladesh](https://docs.barcoder.ai/docs/wallets/islami-bank-bd) (Islami Bank Bangladesh PLC; DSE: ISLAMIBANK; Bangladesh's largest Islamic bank by assets) + Prime Bank (Prime Bank PLC; DSE: PRIMEBANK; Bangladeshi commercial bank) + [Eastern Bank Bangladesh](https://docs.barcoder.ai/docs/wallets/eastern-bank-bd) (Eastern Bank PLC; DSE: EBL; Bangladeshi commercial bank) + [Dutch-Bangla Bank (DBBL)](https://docs.barcoder.ai/docs/wallets/dutch-bangla-bank) (Dutch-Bangla Bank PLC; DSE: DUTCHBANGL; Bangladeshi commercial bank + Nexus card scheme) + [Standard Chartered Bangladesh](https://docs.barcoder.ai/docs/wallets/standard-chartered-bangladesh) (Standard Chartered Bangladesh; Standard Chartered foreign commercial bank in Bangladesh) + [bKash](https://docs.barcoder.ai/docs/wallets/bkash) (Bangladeshi bKash mobile money; BRAC Bank parent + Money in Motion LLC USA + Ant Group + IFC subsidiary; ~70M+ users) + [Nagad](https://docs.barcoder.ai/docs/wallets/nagad) (Bangladeshi Nagad mobile financial service; Bangladesh Post Office majority controlling; ~80M+ users) + [Rocket (Dutch-Bangla Bank)](https://docs.barcoder.ai/docs/wallets/rocket-dbbl) (Bangladeshi Rocket DBBL mobile financial service; Dutch-Bangla Bank subsidiary) + [Upay (উপায়)](https://docs.barcoder.ai/docs/wallets/upay) (Bangladeshi Upay mobile financial service; United Commercial Bank UCB subsidiary).

**Regulators**: Bangladesh Bank (BB) + BSEC.

## Fun facts

- **Bangladeshi commercial bank** (BRAC Bank PLC; DSE + CSE: BRACBANK).
- **BRAC NGO Bangladesh majority controlling** distinctive Bangladeshi NGO-bank ecosystem (largest NGO in the world by number of employees).
- **Astha 1M users Aug 2025** distinctive Bangladeshi mobile banking milestone (up from 900,000+ May 2025).
- **Astha Tk20,000 crore monthly transactions Jul 2025 - highest ever for any Bangladesh banking app** distinctive Bangladeshi mobile banking transaction volume record.
- **53% Astha users 21-35 age range** distinctive Bangladeshi mobile banking youth demographic prioritising autonomy, convenience, and seamless technological integration.
- **bKash QR + Bangla QR + cardless ATM withdrawal via code** distinctive Bangladeshi mobile banking comprehensive features.
- **Jul 4 2001 BRAC Bank PLC founding as fully Bangladeshi commercial bank by BRAC NGO + Shorebank Corp USA + International Finance Corporation IFC** distinctive Bangladeshi NGO-bank heritage.
- **Astha real-time fund transfers through NPSB + BEFTN + RTGS + VISA Direct + wallet partners + bill payments + mobile top-ups + Bangla QR and bKash QR payments + cardless ATM withdrawals via code + standing instructions for recurring payments** distinctive Bangladeshi mobile banking comprehensive offering.

## Comparison

| Feature | BRAC Bank | [bKash](https://docs.barcoder.ai/docs/wallets/bkash) (Bangladeshi bKash mobile money rival; BRAC Bank parent + Money in Motion LLC USA + Ant Group + IFC subsidiary; ~70M+ users) | [The City Bank Bangladesh](https://docs.barcoder.ai/docs/wallets/city-bank-bd) (The City Bank PLC rival; Bangladeshi commercial bank) | United Commercial Bank (United Commercial Bank PLC rival; Bangladeshi commercial bank) | [Islami Bank Bangladesh](https://docs.barcoder.ai/docs/wallets/islami-bank-bd) (Islami Bank Bangladesh PLC rival; Bangladesh's largest Islamic bank by assets) |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Operator | **BRAC Bank PLC (DSE: BRACBANK; CSE: BRACBANK; Bangladeshi commercial bank since 2001; BRAC NGO Bangladesh majority controlling)** | bKash Limited (BRAC Bank parent + Money in Motion LLC USA + Ant Group + IFC + others investors) | The City Bank PLC (DSE: CITYBANK; Bangladeshi commercial bank) | United Commercial Bank PLC (DSE: UCBL; Bangladeshi commercial bank) | Islami Bank Bangladesh PLC (DSE: ISLAMIBANK; Bangladesh's largest Islamic bank by assets) |
| Type | **Bangladeshi commercial bank + BRAC NGO Bangladesh majority controlling + Astha 1M users Aug 2025 + Astha Tk20,000 crore monthly transactions Jul 2025 - highest ever for any Bangladesh banking app + 53% Astha users 21-35 age range + bKash QR + Bangla QR + cardless ATM withdrawal via code** | Bangladeshi bKash mobile money + BRAC Bank parent + Money in Motion LLC USA + Ant Group + IFC + others investors + ~70M+ users + Bangladesh's #1 mobile financial service | Bangladeshi commercial bank | Bangladeshi commercial bank | Bangladesh's largest Islamic bank by assets |
| Country | BD | BD | BD | BD | BD |
| Distinctive | **1972 BRAC NGO Bangladesh founding by Fazle Hasan Abed (largest NGO in the world by number of employees); Jul 4 2001 BRAC Bank PLC founding as fully Bangladeshi commercial bank by BRAC NGO + Shorebank Corp USA + International Finance Corporation IFC; 2007 BRAC Bank DSE + CSE IPO under ticker BRACBANK; 2018 BRAC Bank Astha mobile banking app launch; Jul 2025 BRAC Bank Astha Tk20,000 crore monthly transactions - highest ever for any Bangladesh banking app; Aug 2025 BRAC Bank Astha 1M users milestone + 53% Astha users 21-35 age range** | 2010 bKash founding by BRAC Bank + Money in Motion LLC USA; ~70M+ users; Bangladesh's #1 mobile financial service | 1983 The City Bank founding | 1983 United Commercial Bank founding | 1983 Islami Bank Bangladesh founding |

## Status

**Active, Bangladeshi commercial bank + BRAC NGO Bangladesh majority controlling + Astha 1M users Aug 2025 + Astha Tk20,000 crore monthly transactions Jul 2025 - highest ever for any Bangladesh banking app + 53% Astha users 21-35 age range** <sup>[1][1], [2][2], [3][3]</sup>:
- **BRAC Bank PLC (DSE: BRACBANK; CSE: BRACBANK; Bangladeshi commercial bank since 2001; BRAC NGO Bangladesh majority controlling)** since 1972 BRAC NGO Bangladesh founding by Fazle Hasan Abed + Jul 4 2001 BRAC Bank PLC founding as fully Bangladeshi commercial bank by BRAC NGO + Shorebank Corp USA + International Finance Corporation IFC + 2007 BRAC Bank DSE + CSE IPO under ticker BRACBANK + 2018 BRAC Bank Astha mobile banking app launch.
- **BRAC Bank Astha 1M users Aug 2025 + Astha Tk20,000 crore monthly transactions Jul 2025**.
- **Astha real-time fund transfers through NPSB + BEFTN + RTGS + VISA Direct + wallet partners + bill payments + mobile top-ups + Bangla QR and bKash QR payments + cardless ATM withdrawals via code + standing instructions for recurring payments**.
- **Bangladesh Bank (BB) + BSEC regulated**.

## Sources

[1]: https://www.dhakatribune.com/business/banks/389015/%E2%80%98astha%E2%80%99-app-achieves-major-milestone-with-1m-users "'Astha' app achieves major milestone with 1m users — Dhaka Tribune"
[2]: https://www.tbsnews.net/economy/corporates/how-customers-are-banking-smarter-brac-banks-astha-application-1140491 "How customers are banking smarter with BRAC Bank's Astha application — The Business Standard"
[3]: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/BRAC_Bank "BRAC Bank — Wikipedia"
[bd-cro]: https://docs.barcoder.ai/docs/payments/BD

- [1] ['Astha' app achieves major milestone with 1m users — Dhaka Tribune][1]
- [2] [How customers are banking smarter with BRAC Bank's Astha application — The Business Standard][2]
- [3] [BRAC Bank — Wikipedia][3]
- <sup>[Bangladesh report](https://docs.barcoder.ai/docs/payments/BD)</sup> In-corpus: `reports/countries/BD-bangladesh.md`

## Source

Biography extracted from [brac-bank.md](https://docs.barcoder.ai/source/wallets/brac-bank). See `matrix.md` for standards-support matrix if present.