Dr Mohammed Haider Ali Miah on banking | EXIM Bank

Transcript

EXIM Bank – the Export-Import Bank of Bangladesh – was created in 1999 with the aim of contributing to the country’s social and economic development. Dr Mohammed Haider Ali Miah, Managing Director and CEO of EXIM Bank, talks about the bank’s transition from a conventional commercial bank into a fully-fledged Islamic bank in 2004, and how EXIM Bank gives back to the Bangladeshi community through its many CSR projects.

World Finance: Tell us about EXIM Bank’s operation – the services you offer and the clients you work with.

Dr Mohammed Haider Ali Miah: EXIM Bank is one of the best third generation banks in our country. EXIM Bank is a customer-friendly bank, and EXIM Bank is a religious-friendly bank, and also a CSR-friendly bank. We are mostly an export-import service oriented bank. We are offering a good number of services to the people of the country, such as online banking services, credit card and debit card facilities, and ATM service. Electronic clearing house also we are offering, with a remittance service, swift service and locker service. And also we have our Hajj service.

“EXIM Bank is a customer-friendly, religious-friendly, and CSR-friendly bank”

World Finance: And your services are being well received, with a 35 percent growth in profits last year; tell us about your position in the Bangladeshi market.

Dr Mohammed Haider Ali Miah: We achieved a 35 percent growth in operating profit last year, because our bank’s total investment – that is $1,650bn, our total investment – out of this, 46 percent we are investing in government industry. From here we earn a handsome amount of profit.

Another point, our non-performing loan is less than two percent. So, we have the greater opportunity to earn more profit. In our country, out of 47 banks, we are the highest profit earner bank.

World Finance: EXIM Bank used to be a conventional commercial bank, but you transformed your operation into an Islamic bank in 2004. What impact has this transition had on your returns, the products you offer, and the relationship you have with your customers?

Dr Mohammed Haider Ali Miah: EXIM Bank has 57 deposit products and 21 investment products. Out of these, the products that are very important, one is the Mudarabbah cash deposit account. And then the medicine deposit account for medicine purpsoes.

Another account is the senior citizen account, for citizens aged 55 years and above. He or she is entitled to open this type of account and with this account we are offering highest weightage and highest profit, for their living standards.

And another one is the Hajj deposit account, for performing holy Hajj. So, these are the most important products out of 57.

“We achieved a 35 percent growth in operating profit last year”

World Finance: Finally, you touched earlier on your CSR activities, tell us more about these projects, and how you make the business case for giving back to the community.

Dr Mohammed Haider Ali Miah: EXIM Bank is a CSR-friendly bank. EXIM Bank has already formed different projects for CSR purposes. We have a scholarship programme, for scholarship purposes from school level to university level. Another is our donation project: we have charity or donation projects, in our country that is, for example, educating and nursing autistic children. Another project is the hospital, EXIM Bank Hospital. All class of peoples can use the services of this hospital, with a minimum service charge. These are the major projects of our EXIM Bank CSR activities.

World Finance: Dr Haider, thank you.

Dr Mohammed Haider Ali Miah: You’re welcome. Thank you very much and thanks to all.