You didn’t start your business to become an expert in loan applications. You started because you saw a gap, had a skill, or simply refused to stay stuck. But now you’re here, searching for capital, and it feels like the banking world is speaking a language you never learned. That sinking feeling when your application gets returned with a polite “we’ll review this”? You’re not alone.
Right now, 1.18 crore businesses in Bangladesh are fighting for attention in a system where only 28% ever touch formal credit. But here’s what changes today: you’re about to learn exactly what banks want, which hidden schemes can cut your rate to 6%, and how to walk into that meeting like you already belong there.
Keynote: SME Loan in Bangladesh
SME loans in Bangladesh offer business financing from Tk. 50,000 to Tk. 5 crore at interest rates between 6-15%, depending on scheme eligibility and collateral. The weighted average SME interest rate stands at 12.49%, though government refinance programs provide loans as low as 5% for women entrepreneurs and 6% for businesses outside major metros. These loans power 1.18 crore enterprises contributing 30% to national GDP while employing 2.40 crore people.
That Gut-Punch Feeling When Banks Say No (And Why It Keeps Happening)
The emotional toll nobody talks about
You’ve sacrificed sleep building this business, yet bankers see only numbers on a spreadsheet. They don’t see the nights you stayed awake fixing client problems or the weekends you spent rebuilding inventory after a supplier let you down.
That shame of borrowing from family repeatedly while “official channels” stay closed cuts deeper than any interest rate. Your uncle asks when you’ll pay him back, and you’re wondering why the system that’s supposed to support entrepreneurs keeps shutting you out.
The exhausting cycle becomes your new normal: apply, wait weeks, get rejected, repeat without knowing why. Each rejection chips away at the confidence that made you start this journey in the first place.
You feel invisible despite powering 25% of Bangladesh’s entire GDP. Your garment accessories workshop employs twelve families. Your agro-processing unit sources from forty farmers. Yet somehow, you’re still “too risky” for a Tk. 5 lakh working capital loan.
What rejection actually means (it’s not what you think)
Nine out of ten rejections happen for completely fixable documentation gaps. Not because your business isn’t viable. Not because you lack dedication. Usually, it’s something as simple as a trade license that expired two months ago or bank statements that don’t clearly show business transactions.
Banks aren’t judging your hustle; they’re trapped in their own risk panic. After watching non-performing loan rates climb across the sector, loan officers get paranoid about approvals that might blow up on their desk later.
Your “no” often translates to: wrong paperwork, wrong timing, or wrong loan type. You applied for a term loan when you needed overdraft facility. You approached a bank that doesn’t have appetite for your sector this quarter. You submitted last year’s financials when they needed current projections.
The $2.8 billion gap swallowing dreams
Bangladesh has a massive SME funding shortfall equal to 19% of GDP. Think about what that means. Nearly one-fifth of the economy’s potential growth sits locked behind closed bank doors while businesses like yours scramble for capital.
While you’re fighting for crumbs, big corporates negotiate 9% rates for millions without breaking a sweat. They have dedicated relationship managers. You get a busy signal when you call the SME desk.
Over 40% of small businesses still rely on expensive informal moneylenders charging 24-36% annually. The math is brutal. You borrow Tk. 2 lakh to buy raw materials, and six months later you’ve paid back Tk. 2.36 lakh just in interest before touching principal.
Women and rural entrepreneurs get hit hardest by this invisible wall. If you’re running a dairy processing unit in Bogura or a boutique in Sylhet, the distance from Dhaka’s banking concentration creates another barrier on top of the existing ones.
The Interest Rate Maze (What You’re Really Paying and Why)
Why your 13-15% rate feels like robbery
Standard SME rates hover at 13-15% while corporates enjoy single digits quietly. Your printed circuit board manufacturing unit pays 14% on a Tk. 10 lakh loan. The pharmaceutical company down the road pays 8.5% on Tk. 50 crore. Same country, same economy, wildly different treatment.
Processing a Tk. 1 lakh loan costs banks Tk. 10,000 in staff time, documentation, and compliance checks. That’s their excuse, anyway. Never mind that your loan officer spends exactly seventeen minutes reviewing your file before passing it up the chain.
Your 99% repayment reliability matters less than their outdated risk models. SMEs in Bangladesh maintain exceptional recovery rates, yet banks price loans like half of you will default tomorrow. The disconnect between your actual performance and their perceived risk creates this painful gap.
The secret rate-cutting paths banks don’t advertise
CMSME refinance schemes offer loans at maximum 7% to eligible entrepreneurs through Bangladesh Bank’s special programs. These aren’t theoretical. They’re sitting there right now, funded and ready, waiting for someone who knows to ask for them.
Women-focused products drop rates to 5% under Bangladesh Bank programs specifically designed to close the gender financing gap. If you’re a woman running any registered business, you qualify for consideration. Period.
Startup master circulars mention 4% borrower rates that almost nobody claims because the banks don’t exactly put up billboards advertising them. The fine print in Bangladesh Bank’s SME policy guidelines reveals these programs clearly, but you have to know they exist before you can demand access.
These aren’t myths; they’re official schemes hiding in plain sight. The problem isn’t availability. It’s awareness. Banks won’t volunteer that you qualify for a cheaper program when they can book you at market rate.
Hidden costs that silently drain your capital
Processing, legal, valuation, and CIB fees easily add 2-3% to total cost before you receive a single taka. Your quoted 12% loan becomes 14.5% when you factor in stamp duty, insurance premiums, and “documentation charges” that banks classify as non-interest expenses.
Early settlement penalties trap you in expensive debt longer than necessary. You get a good sales quarter and want to pay off the balance early? That’ll cost you 2% of outstanding principal plus VAT, making prepayment financially pointless.
Mandatory insurance from “preferred providers” benefits banks, not your business. The fire and theft coverage they require costs 30% more than open market rates, but you can’t shop around if you want approval.
Always demand the complete schedule of charges before signing anything. Get it in writing. When the loan officer says “just some standard fees,” that’s your cue to ask for line-item breakdown. If they hesitate, walk out.
The Document Battlefield (What Actually Gets You Approved)
The non-negotiable paperwork that opens every door
Trade license valid for minimum two continuous years of operation proves you’re not a fly-by-night setup. City corporations and municipalities issue these, and banks check authenticity directly with issuing authorities, so don’t even think about creative shortcuts.
NID of applicant plus guarantors with clear photocopies and originals ready for verification. Sounds basic, but faded photocopies or mismatched addresses between NID and current location raise immediate red flags.
Last 12 months bank statements showing consistent business transaction patterns clearly demonstrate operational stability. Not three months. Not six months. Twelve full months because banks want to see your lean season, your peak season, and everything between.
TIN certificate mandatory for loans exceeding Tk. 5 lakh, no exceptions. National Board of Revenue requires this for tax compliance verification, and banks won’t budge even if you promise to get it “next week.”
The “trust” documents that separate you from desperate applicants
Bangladesh Bank CIB report revealing your complete credit history proactively obtained shows you’re transparent about your financial past. Get this yourself before applying. Discovering a problem during the bank’s check wastes everyone’s time and destroys your credibility instantly.
“A clean CIB is your silent advocate,” explains Rahima Akhter, who processed over 400 SME loans at a private bank in Dhaka. “Applicants who bring their own CIB report move to the front of my review queue because it signals they understand the system.”
Rental agreement for business premises valid for 3-5 years minimum demonstrates long-term commitment. Month-to-month arrangements suggest you might disappear, making banks nervous about recovery if things go sideways.
Utility bills proving stable operations, not just a PO box, confirm your business exists in physical space with real overhead costs. WASA bills, electricity statements from the commercial connection at your shop address.
Photos of actual inventory, equipment, and workspace that match your story bring credibility that financial statements alone can’t provide. Your application says “plastic molding machinery”? Show them the German injection molding machine sitting in your 2,400 square foot facility.
Financial statements that prove you’re not gambling
Last year’s figures, current actuals, and next year’s realistic projections tell a coherent growth story. Banks don’t expect hockey stick graphs. They expect logic. Revenue grew 18% because you added two sales territories. Margins tightened 3% because raw material costs spiked. That makes sense.
Break down exactly where money goes: 40% machinery, 30% working capital, 30% buffer for unexpected delays or market shifts. Vague “business expansion” gets rejected. Specific “upgrading to automated packaging line reducing labor cost 25% within 8 months” gets approved.
Sales ledgers that align with bank deposits, not wishful Facebook claims, provide the reality check officers need. Your ledger shows Tk. 12 lakh monthly sales, but only Tk. 4 lakh hits your account? That gap becomes a conversation you don’t want to have.
For partnerships and companies, add these credibility layers
Partnership deed or RJSC incorporation documents showing proper business structure separate established entities from informal arrangements. Banks lend to legal entities, not handshake partnerships that dissolve when partners disagree.
Board resolution authorizing the loan application and naming responsible officers proves internal governance exists. Someone decided this borrowing makes strategic sense and documented that decision formally.
Audited accounts for 2-3 years, even if simple, show seriousness about financial management. You don’t need a Big Four audit. Local chartered accountants certifying your books suffices for most SME applications.
Collateral Reality Check (You Have More Options Than You Think)
What banks actually accept as security
Landed property worth 1.5x your loan amount with clean deeds remains the gold standard. You need Tk. 20 lakh? They’ll mortgage property valued at Tk. 30 lakh minimum. The loan-to-value ratio protects them against market fluctuations and valuation disputes.
Fixed deposits can secure “cash-backed” loans with fastest approval times, sometimes within 48 hours. Already have Tk. 8 lakh in an FDR? Pledge it as security for a Tk. 7 lakh loan while it keeps earning interest.
Personal guarantees from two solvent individuals work up to specific thresholds that vary by bank. Eastern Bank accepts guarantees for loans up to Tk. 8 lakh. Jamuna Bank extends this to Tk. 10 lakh for women entrepreneurs. Know the limits before you ask.
The collateral-free revolution you might qualify for
Bangladesh Bank encourages loans up to Tk. 25 lakh without property through its credit guarantee scheme designed to reduce entry barriers. Not every bank participates actively, so you need to ask specifically: “Are you enrolled in BB credit guarantee schemes?”
Women entrepreneurs access Tk. 50 lakh on personal guarantee alone in programs run through designated women entrepreneur development units at major banks. BRAC Bank, Dutch-Bangla Bank, and Eastern Bank PLC have dedicated WEDU desks processing these applications.
Credit guarantee facilities replace collateral for eligible CMSMEs through participating banks that share risk with Bangladesh Bank refinancing. The government’s CMSME portal lists which banks currently accept guarantee scheme applications.
Group or cluster security where members guarantee each other’s commitment reliably works particularly well in manufacturing hubs. Narsingdi’s textile cluster and Bogura’s sweet makers cluster use this approach successfully, spreading risk across multiple businesses.
When you don’t have land (and that’s completely okay)
Offer partial security plus impeccable bank statements instead of empty promises. You can mortgage your Tk. 6 lakh car and provide 18 months of solid banking history for a Tk. 12 lakh loan. Combination security arrangements demonstrate commitment.
Bring property valuation documents early so banks trust your numbers completely. Third-party valuations from approved firms remove negotiation friction and speed processing significantly.
Ask directly: “Are you enrolled in BB credit guarantee schemes?” Don’t assume. Don’t hint. Ask the specific question and wait for a clear answer. If they say no, try the next bank on your list.
Education certificates and training completion replace property for startup-specific loans under schemes targeting educated youth entrepreneurs. Your MBA plus business plan beats distant agricultural land in some programs.
The Hidden Loan Programs That Change Everything
Women entrepreneurs have a secret advantage
78% acceptance rate and significantly better loan terms than advertised make women entrepreneur programs the best-kept secret in SME financing. Banks have targets to meet for women lending, creating genuine incentives to approve qualified applications.
Special schemes offer rates as low as 5% exclusively for women-led businesses where the woman holds at least 51% ownership and management control. Not just namesake directors. Actual operational authority.
WEDU desks provide dedicated advisors, mentors, and training support beyond money at BRAC Bank, DBBL, Prime Bank, and others. Nasrin from Chattogram told me her WEDU advisor helped restructure her supplier payments, saving more money than the interest subsidy alone.
Collateral requirements drop dramatically when you qualify under women entrepreneur programs. The Tk. 15 lakh you need for expanding your catering equipment? Personal guarantee might suffice where your male competitor needs property mortgage.
Government refinance schemes nobody talks about
Tk. 25,000 crore CMSME refinance fund offers rates at 6-7% through participating banks that access cheap capital from Bangladesh Bank. These funds exist specifically for cottage, micro, small, and medium enterprises facing the financing gap.
SMEDP-2 provides 6% interest specifically for businesses outside Dhaka and Chattogram metropolitan areas, recognizing that regional enterprises face higher operational challenges. Your Rangpur manufacturing unit qualifies automatically based on location.
Maximum Tk. 5 crore with five-year tenure available for serious expansion projects that demonstrate job creation and value addition. These aren’t working capital facilities. They’re long-term growth capital for businesses ready to scale significantly.
Digital platforms cutting approval time by weeks
BRAC Bank’s eLAP platform processes applications in 7-10 days maximum compared to traditional 45-day timelines that kill business opportunities. Upload documents digitally, track status real-time, communicate with officers through the portal.
100,000+ loans totaling Tk. 17,852 crore already disbursed through digital systems prove the model works at scale. Early adopters report 6-day average time savings compared to branch-based processing.
Processing time reduced by six full days transforms the painful waiting game into manageable planning. You can time applications around inventory purchase deadlines instead of guessing when approval might land.
Cluster financing for collective strength
177 SME clusters across 51 districts help individual businesses too small alone gain economies of scale in financing, raw material purchase, and market access. Joining a recognized cluster opens doors that solo applications can’t reach.
No property mortgage required when cluster members guarantee each other reliably and maintain group discipline around repayments. The cluster association becomes your collateral substitute through joint liability mechanisms.
SME Foundation provides refinancing, making banks more willing to participate actively by sharing default risk. Visit SME Foundation to locate clusters in your district and understand membership requirements.
Picking the Right Loan Type (Match Your Cash Cycle, Not Your Ego)
Term loan versus overdraft (the honest difference)
Term loan fits predictable monthly income and planned machinery or expansion where you know exactly what you’re buying and when repayment cash flow materializes. Fixed EMI every month for 36-60 months disciplines financial planning.
Overdraft matches seasonal sales swings and working capital needs perfectly because you only pay interest on utilized amounts. Your Eid inventory buildup requires Tk. 8 lakh for two months, then drops to Tk. 2 lakh rest of the year? Overdraft wins.
Match tenor to your inventory cycle, not just “lowest monthly installment.” A 5-year term on 90-day inventory financing means you’re paying interest for four years after the business purpose ended. Match money duration to need duration.
Common products you’ll actually encounter
| Loan Type | Best For | Key Advantage | Typical Limit |
|---|---|---|---|
| Startup Loan | New ideas under 2 years | No business history required | Tk. 2 lakh – 1 crore |
| Women SME | Female entrepreneurs | Lowest rates, flexible collateral | Tk. 1 lakh – 50 lakh |
| Working Capital | Daily operations, inventory | Revolving facility, seasonal fit | Tk. 3 lakh – 25 lakh |
| Term Loan (Secured) | Machinery, expansion | Longer tenor, structured repayment | Tk. 10 lakh – 5 crore |
Cash credit hypothesis structures let you pledge inventory and receivables instead of fixed assets. Your Tk. 15 lakh finished goods inventory secures a Tk. 10 lakh credit line that renews automatically.
Festival loans target specific seasonal needs like Eid, Puja, or harvest seasons with compressed approval and repayment timelines. Three-month facilities with slightly higher rates but zero hassle.
Machinery loans offer 70-80% financing against equipment purchase with the machine itself serving as primary security through hypothecation agreement. The German generator you’re importing becomes its own collateral.
When refinance actually makes financial sense
You meet eligibility criteria and can prove proper fund utilization clearly through audited accounts and utilization certificates. Refinance isn’t debt consolidation. It’s accessing cheaper institutional capital for productive business purposes.
Your existing rate exceeds 10% and refinance offers 6-7% savings, creating immediate cash flow improvement. Tk. 20 lakh at 13% costs Tk. 2.6 lakh annually. Same amount at 7% costs Tk. 1.4 lakh. That’s Tk. 1.2 lakh saved every year.
You’re in priority sectors like manufacturing, agro-processing, or export-oriented business identified in Bangladesh Bank circulars. Leather goods, pharmaceuticals, light engineering, and ICT services get preferential access.
It’s not “free money”; documentation and monitoring requirements still apply with quarterly reporting on fund deployment and business performance. Banks want to see their cheap refinance capital actually building productive capacity.
Building Your Approval Strategy (Walk In Prepared, Leave With Confidence)
The pre-application intelligence gathering nobody does
Visit the SME desk three months before you desperately need money when you can walk away if terms don’t work. Desperation shows, and banks exploit it. Preparation commands respect.
Ask loan officers what similar businesses in your sector needed for approval. “I’m in plastic injection molding. What did your last three approvals in this sector look like?” This single question reveals inside information worth thousands.
Build rapport by showing organized planning, not just another desperate application. Bring your business plan, even if they don’t ask. Show inventory photos on your phone. Demonstrate you’re serious before they invest time evaluating you.
Crafting a “use of funds” story lenders actually believe
Working capital: inventory build-up, supplier payments, seasonal stock needs clearly defined with vendor quotations attached. “General business purposes” gets rejected. “Tk. 8 lakh fabric purchase from three suppliers with 30-day payment terms” gets approved.
Fixed assets: machinery purchase, vehicle financing, shop renovation with specific quotes from vendors and contractors. The more detail, the more credibility. Include model numbers, supplier names, delivery timelines.
Keep a realistic buffer, but never call it “personal use.” Call it “contingency for market fluctuations” or “buffer for delayed receivables.” Same money, different framing, completely different officer response.
The bank statement cleanup strategy that changes perception
Route sales through your business account steadily, reducing cash-only flows that make banks nervous about tax compliance and transaction visibility. Even if you operate 40% cash, show 70% flowing through the account.
Separate personal and business spending to demonstrate management maturity completely. Opening separate accounts costs nothing but signals professionalism worth thousands in approval probability.
Write brief notes explaining large deposits so you answer before they ask. That Tk. 1.2 lakh deposit in March? Note it as “Eid advance orders – 12 customers.” Proactive transparency builds trust.
Choosing which bank to approach (matching matters)
Some banks favor manufacturing; others prefer service businesses; research their portfolios before applying. BRAC Bank and NRB Bank excel at retail and service SMEs. Jamuna Bank and Mercantile Bank prefer manufacturing and trading.
Islamic banks offer Murabaha structures instead of conventional interest-bearing loans for businesses preferring Shariah-compliant financing. Islami Bank, Social Islami Bank, and Exim Bank have dedicated Islamic SME products.
BRAC Bank and DBBL excel at SME processing speed and volume with established systems handling 40,000+ annual applications. They’ve seen everything, making approvals faster and more standardized.
Don’t apply everywhere simultaneously; multiple rejections destroy credit standing for months. Each rejection appears on your CIB report. Three rejections in 60 days signal desperation, making the fourth bank instantly suspicious.
Why Applications Fail (And Exactly How to Fix Each Issue)
The CIB nightmare that haunts silently
One bounced check from three years ago still appears on reports, tanking applications you thought were solid. Credit information bureau maintains records for extended periods, and banks check every time.
Your personal credit gets checked even for business loans, shocking but true. That Tk. 35,000 credit card default from 2022? It’s killing your Tk. 10 lakh business loan application today.
Get your own CIB report before banks do to avoid surprises. Bangladesh Bank allows individuals to request their own credit reports. Fix discrepancies proactively instead of reactively defending yourself during bank interviews.
Cash flow that screams “high risk” to officers
Three months of slow sales makes banks question your entire year’s viability even when seasonality explains everything. Present 24-month patterns showing seasonal cycles, educating lenders about your reality instead of hoping they understand retail dynamics.
Monthly EMI structures don’t fit businesses with quarterly revenue spikes naturally. Your construction material supply business earns 60% of annual revenue in four months. Explaining this upfront prevents confusion later.
Debt service coverage ratio below 1.25x triggers automatic concerns. Your monthly profit needs to exceed monthly EMI by 25% minimum for comfort. Tk. 40,000 profit against Tk. 35,000 EMI feels tight to loan committees.
Incomplete applications that waste everyone’s time
Missing one utility bill delays approval by weeks, costing you opportunities while competitors secure inventory at better prices. Check document requirements three times before submission.
Unsigned guarantor forms restart the entire process from absolute beginning. Your guarantor travels frequently for work? Get signatures while they’re available, not when the bank finally requests them.
Outdated trade license means instant rejection with no second chances given. Check expiration dates. Renew proactively. This basic step stops 15% of applications dead.
Life After Approval (Making the Money Actually Work)
The critical first 90 days deployment strategy
Don’t spend everything immediately; maintain 15-20% emergency buffer for unexpected shocks that inevitably arrive right after you commit all funds. Murphy’s law applies double to businesses.
Implement purchases in phases, tracking ROI before committing to next investment. Buy the essential machinery first. Measure performance for 45 days. Then proceed with auxiliary equipment based on actual results, not projections.
Set weekly revenue targets ensuring you’re on track for timely payments. If monthly EMI is Tk. 28,000, you need approximately Tk. 7,000 weekly contribution to fund it comfortably. Missing week two signals trouble before it becomes crisis.
Building credit history for cheaper future money
Pay EMI three days early, not on deadline, building exceptional track record that appears distinctly in bank systems. Early payments signal financial stability and management discipline more powerfully than any interview can.
This makes your next application nearly automatic with better terms offered because you’re now proven performance, not speculative risk. My neighbor Kamal leveraged his perfect 18-month payment history into a second loan at 11% versus his original 14%.
Maintain minimum account balances showing financial stability beyond mere loan repayment. Zero balance the day after EMI payment worries officers. Consistent Tk. 50,000 balance suggests healthy operations.
When repayment gets tight (honest crisis management)
Contact your bank immediately when you sense trouble coming, not after missing payments. Loan officers appreciate proactive communication and have restructuring options that disappear once you’re officially delinquent.
Banks prefer restructuring over defaults; they want their money, not penalties or legal drama. Extending your 36-month loan to 48 months reduces EMI burden while preserving their principal recovery.
Three months of on-time payments after restructuring can restore standing substantially. Defaults scar your credit for years. Restructuring appears as loan modification, not failure.
Never ignore bank calls; communication keeps options open that silence closes permanently. That unknown number calling repeatedly? It’s your loan officer trying to help before escalation becomes mandatory.
Preparing for your second round of growth
Document your success with photos, customer testimonials, and actual revenue growth from the first loan investment. Show the machinery in operation. Share the new client contracts. Build the narrative of smart capital deployment.
Your loan officer wants to showcase you internally as their success story because it helps their career progression. Make them look good by demonstrating measurable business improvement directly traceable to loan utilization.
Second loans get approved faster when first loans performed exactly as projected. You said you’d grow revenue 20% and reduce costs 12%. You delivered 22% and 14%. Next approval becomes formality.
Conclusion
You started reading this feeling overwhelmed by the SME loan maze in Bangladesh. Now you understand the truth: it’s not about having perfect credentials or family wealth. It’s about knowing which of the 1.18 crore businesses are getting approved and why. The interest rates seem crushing until you discover the 5% women schemes, the 6% refinance paths, and the collateral-free options up to Tk. 25 lakh that banks quietly offer. Your rejection anxiety was real, but so is the Tk. 25,000 crore sitting in refinance funds waiting for prepared applicants.
The gap between you and funding isn’t your business model. It’s information asymmetry. Banks processed 100,000+ digital loans in recent years while you struggled with branch visits because nobody told you about eLAP platforms. Women entrepreneurs enjoy 78% approval rates using programs that remain invisible to 60% of eligible applicants. The SMEDP-2 scheme offers 6% rates outside Dhaka-Chattogram, yet regional businesses pay 14% because loan officers don’t mention it.
Here’s your single action for today: Get your Bangladesh Bank CIB report. This one document reveals exactly what banks see when they look at you. Fix what’s broken, strengthen what’s weak, then walk into that branch not asking for a favor but offering them a sound investment. Your business already survived without their help. Now you’re ready to show them why funding your growth is their smartest move.
Start up Business Loan Bangladesh (FAQs)
What is the minimum business experience required for SME loan?
Yes, most banks require 2 years of continuous business operation demonstrated through valid trade license and tax returns. Startup-specific schemes reduce this to 6-12 months for educated entrepreneurs with solid business plans.
Which bank offers the lowest SME loan interest rate in Bangladesh?
Yes, rates vary significantly. BRAC Bank and DBBL offer 6-7.5% through Bangladesh Bank refinance schemes for eligible businesses. Standard commercial rates range 12-15%, making refinance programs critical for cost savings.
Can I get SME loan without property mortgage?
Yes, loans up to Tk. 25 lakh qualify for collateral-free financing under credit guarantee schemes at participating banks. Women entrepreneurs access up to Tk. 50 lakh on personal guarantee through dedicated WEDU programs nationwide.
What documents are mandatory for SME loan application?
Yes, core requirements include 2-year valid trade license, NID of owner and guarantors, 12-month bank statements, TIN certificate for loans above Tk. 5 lakh, and CIB report showing clean credit history without defaults.
How long does SME loan approval take in Bangladesh?
No, timelines vary dramatically. Traditional branch processing takes 30-45 days while digital platforms like BRAC Bank eLAP complete approvals in 7-10 days. Complete documentation and clean CIB accelerate processing significantly.