United Commercial Bank (UCB) disbursed Tk17,927.09 crore in sustainable financing in 2025, accounting for 72.29 per cent of its total disbursements and exceeding Bangladesh Bank’s regulatory target of 20 per cent.
The figures were disclosed in the bank’s third independent sustainability report, “Transforming Intent into Planetary Impact”, launched at its corporate office in Dhaka last week.
The report covers UCB’s environmental, social and governance performance for 2025, using international IFRS S1 and S2 sustainability disclosure standards. The bank also introduced an interactive web-based version, which it described as the first of its kind in Bangladesh’s banking industry.
Green financing reached Tk488.67 crore, representing 30.40 per cent of term loan disbursements, against a regulatory target of 5 per cent. Outstanding green loans stood at Tk2,744.37 crore.
The bank financed 27 LEED-certified industrial facilities, including 12 Platinum- and 13 Gold-rated establishments, and facilitated more than $3 billion in ready-made garment exports.
UCB also disclosed the carbon footprint associated with its lending portfolio, estimating financed emissions at 19.12 lakh tonnes of carbon dioxide equivalent in 2025.
Emission intensity stood at 37.52 tonnes of carbon dioxide equivalent per Tk1 crore deployed, a measure of emissions associated with each unit of financing.
The bank assessed its direct operational emissions and those from purchased energy with Ernst & Young Advisory Services. It used the Netherlands-based Joint Impact Model framework to estimate indirect emissions linked to borrowers.
UCB said it was incorporating climate risks into lending decisions, including risks from physical climate damage and the transition towards lower-carbon economic activities.
Speaking at the launch, UCB Chairman Sharif Zahir said responsible capital allocation was particularly important for a country exposed to climate risks.
“Capital must serve as an active catalyst for ecological restoration and sustainable economic progress,” he said.
The bank operates 34 solar-powered branches, four solar-powered ATMs, 630 agent banking outlets across all 64 districts and 50 dedicated sustainable finance help desks serving rural and semi-urban entrepreneurs.
UCB said its overall lending supported more than 2 lakh jobs nationwide, with women accounting for approximately 30 per cent of those positions.
It also reported contributing Tk1,803.05 crore to the government exchequer during 2025.
UCB CEO Mohammad Mamdudur Rashid said sustainable banking was central to the lender’s long-term resilience and governance.
