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State-owned Rupali Bank reported a net loss of Tk 640.57 crore during the first half of 2026, as the interest it paid to depositors and other lenders exceeded its interest income by more than twofold.
The figures were disclosed in the bank's unaudited financial statements for the second quarter (April–June), published by the Dhaka Stock Exchange (DSE) and approved by the board of directors last Wednesday.
According to the financial report, Rupali Bank earned Tk 1,294 crore in interest from loans during January–June, down from Tk 1,725 crore in the same period a year earlier. Meanwhile, its interest expenses rose to Tk 2,639 crore, compared with Tk 2,319 crore in the corresponding period of 2025.
As a result, the bank recorded a net interest loss of Tk 1,345 crore, significantly higher than the Tk 594 crore loss reported in the same period last year.
Managing Director Kazi Md Wahidul Islam said the bank is now following banking regulations more strictly, adding that many previously classified defaulted loans had earlier been reported as regular. He said the bank is expanding lending to small, medium-sized and consumer borrowers while adopting a more cautious approach to approving large loans.
The report showed that the bank earned Tk 1,204 crore from investments and Tk 101 crore from commissions, exchange and brokerage services during the six-month period. However, higher operating costs, including salaries and administrative expenses, further widened the overall loss.
As of the end of June, the bank's total deposits stood at Tk 74,028 crore, while its loan portfolio reached Tk 52,139 crore. Its non-performing loan ratio stood at 38 percent, slightly down from 39 percent at the end of December.
According to the DSE filing, the bank posted a loss per share (EPS) of Tk 13.13 for the January–June period. In the same period of 2025, Rupali Bank had reported a profit of Tk 9.94 crore, with earnings per share of Tk 0.20.
