After a prolonged period of hardship and uncertainty, Sammilito Islami Bank PLC is moving forward with restoring customer confidence and providing relief as its highest priorities.

The bank is gradually returning to normal banking operations by allowing regular transactions in individual savings and current accounts, paying monthly profits regularly and enabling customers to access their deposits as required.

Expressing regret over the bank’s inability to provide services according to customers’ needs for a prolonged period, he said customers deposit their hard-earned money in banks so that they can use it when necessary.

“A customer keeps his or her hard-earned money in a bank to use it when needed. Being unable to provide that money on time is painful for a banker as well,” he said.

Sikder said customers holding individual savings and current accounts can now deposit and withdraw any amount of money according to their needs and may withdraw their entire account balance if they wish.

At the same time, customers with monthly profit-based accounts are receiving their profits regularly. Customers with fixed deposits, Deposit Pension Schemes (DPS) or monthly savings schemes who no longer wish to continue their banking relationship with Sammilito Islami Bank are also being given the opportunity to withdraw their principal deposits.

The MD said the bank had initially expected that many customers might withdraw all their money once normal transactions resumed. However, most customers have instead expressed an interest in keeping their money with the bank and continuing their transactions.

“They have told us that they want to remain with the bank as long as they receive their profits regularly. This is a very positive message for the bank,” he said.

According to Sikder, a significant number of customers continued to place their trust in the bank despite the prolonged difficulties and limitations, and that confidence would play an important role in its future operations.

He said bank employees had previously felt anxious about how they would be able to serve customers whenever they visited branches. The situation has now changed, he added, with employees gaining renewed enthusiasm as they are once again able to provide services according to customers’ needs.

Relief Among Expatriate Customers

Sikder said the bank had also received a positive response from expatriate customers, particularly Bangladeshis living in the Middle East.

Many expatriates have expressed their satisfaction through telephone calls and messages, he said, adding that a number of them had indicated that they did not want to withdraw their money but instead wished to continue banking with Sammilito Islami Bank.

With the prolonged uncertainty beginning to ease, they have expressed relief, he said.

The MD said the response from customers both at home and abroad would serve as a major source of strength for the bank as it moves forward.

Customers Can Access Funds According to Their Needs

Emphasising that the purpose of keeping money in a bank is to use it when required, Sikder said customers facing urgent needs are being provided with the necessary funds following due consideration.

There are now no limits or restrictions on transactions involving individual savings and current accounts, he said. Customers can deposit and withdraw money as well as open new accounts.

Those wishing to leave the bank also have the opportunity to recover their principal deposits.

Sikder expressed hope that if these initiatives continued effectively, the bank would return fully to normal operations within a short period and customers’ confidence would become even stronger.

Initiative to Bring Back Former Business Customers

Alongside the normalisation of individual banking transactions, Sammilito Islami Bank is planning to gradually expand its business operations.

The bank’s business activities are mainly focused on the retail, small and medium-sized enterprise (SME) and corporate sectors. Due to recent limitations, some business customers have increased their transactions with other banks.

The bank is now taking steps to bring those customers back.

Sikder said the bank would initially strengthen its business relationships with its existing and trusted customers. Those who previously conducted large-scale business with the bank would be encouraged to return before attention gradually shifted towards attracting new customers.

Once the bank’s normal operations are fully restored, its substantial capital base could be used to expand the scope of its business further, he added.

Model Branch Planned in Gulshan This Month

Sammilito Islami Bank is also planning to open a model branch in the capital’s Gulshan area by the end of September to provide integrated services to customers.

Sikder said the bank was aiming to launch the branch by 30 September. It will operate under the Sammilito Islami Bank brand and will provide services to customers of the five former banks.

“The concept behind the model branch is to provide services to customers of the previous five banks from a single branch,” he said.

At present, several branches of the former banks are located close to one another in many areas. The bank plans to consolidate them where necessary in the future.

The Gulshan branch will be the first step in this initiative, with plans to gradually increase the number of model branches after initially launching one.

Goal of Building a Modern, High-Quality Bank

Sikder said Sammilito Islami Bank was determined to develop into a strong and high-quality financial institution by making effective use of its extensive network of branches and sub-branches, ATM facilities and workforce.

He said employees were working with sincerity and dedication, with the aim of ensuring quality customer service while establishing an orderly and efficient banking environment.

According to the MD, confidence and discipline in the financial sector have a positive impact on the wider economy. Economic activity tends to increase in areas where banks operate, while opportunities are also created to bring people outside the formal banking system into the financial sector.

Sikder said the bank ultimately aims to become a modern, technology-driven and high-quality institution—one that customers will be proud to bank with and employees will be proud to work for.

Expressing gratitude to customers who remained with the bank throughout the prolonged difficulties, he said their confidence would form the foundation for establishing Sammilito Islami Bank as a strong and widely trusted financial institution.