Southeast Bank PLC has launched Bangladesh’s first Visa Student Credit Card, targeting university students with a controlled credit facility backed by parental guarantees.
The private commercial lender hosted a launching ceremony for the product at Sheraton Dhaka on Wednesday, according to a press release.
Md Zakir Hossain Chowdhury, deputy governor of Bangladesh Bank, attended the event as chief guest while MA Kashem, chairman of Southeast Bank, joined as special guest.
Aziz Al Kaiser, chairman of the board of trustees at North South University, was a guest of honour and Sabbir Ahmed Khan, country manager for Bangladesh, Nepal and Bhutan at Visa, was also present.
The ceremony was presided over by Md Khalid Mahmood Khan, managing director and chief executive officer (CEO) of Southeast Bank.
Eligible undergraduate and postgraduate students at recognised universities can avail the card, which requires parental guarantees to manage credit risk, the bank said.
It allows students to manage educational, digital and lifestyle expenses through a controlled credit limit while encouraging responsible borrowing behaviour.
“Launching a safeguarded student-focused credit product is an important step to promote financial literacy and responsible borrowing among young people,” said the deputy governor of Bangladesh Bank.
Chowdhury also emphasised the need for strong compliance and risk management standards while expanding access to formal financial services.
Introducing the product, the chairman of Southeast Bank said the initiative aims to equip young people with structured financial tools and strengthen financial inclusion from an early stage.
Delivering the welcome address, Southeast Bank’s managing director said the card has been designed with controlled limits and risk management safeguards to promote responsible financial behaviour.
The chairman North South’s board of trustees said stronger collaboration between academia and the banking sector can help advance financial inclusion and enable students to manage educational and personal expenses more effectively.
The Visa Student Credit Card offers controlled credit limits, dual transaction alerts to both students and their parents or guardians, restricted high-risk transaction categories and full digital banking access.
The product has been developed in compliance with central bank guidelines to ensure risk mitigation and responsible lending practices, the bank said.
Other than the product’s formal unveiling, the ceremony also featured the handover of cards to selected students from several universities.
Representatives from North South University, ASA University Bangladesh, Daffodil International University and other universities attended the programme alongside senior officials from Visa International and Southeast Bank PLC.
