Standard Chartered Bangladesh (SCB) has signed a memorandum of understanding (MoU) with the Bangladesh Merchant Marine Officers’ Association (BMMOA) to offer a dedicated package of banking services and preferential benefits for Bangladeshi mariners.
The partnership is designed to address the financial needs of seafarers, who often spend extended periods overseas while managing household finances and supporting their families, the bank said in a statement on Wednesday.
Under the arrangement, eligible new and existing mariner clients will receive Priority Banking privileges, preferential lending rates, processing fee waivers on selected retail loans, annual fee waivers on eligible credit and debit cards and dedicated onboarding benefits. Newly onboarded customers will also be eligible for cashback subject to applicable balance and eligibility requirements.
Standard Chartered Bangladesh Managing Director and Head of Wealth and Retail Banking Lutful Habib said the initiative was tailored to the professional and financial needs of mariners, whose work requires flexible and accessible banking services despite long periods away from home.
BMMOA President Capt Md Anam Chowdhury said the collaboration recognises the unique challenges faced by mariners and would provide members with banking services better suited to their profession.
The MoU signing ceremony was attended by senior officials from both organisations, including Standard Chartered Bangladesh Head of Priority and Wealth Management Faisal Haque, Head of Deposits and Digital Banking Rana Shahid Hassan, Branch Manager Azizur Rahman and BMMOA General Secretary Mar Engr Md Shakwat Hossain.
Standard Chartered said the partnership forms part of its strategy to expand profession-based banking solutions and strengthen its wealth and retail banking business in Bangladesh.
