Kathmandu- Kumari Bank Limited has entered into a strategic partnership with German financial institution Deutsche Sparkassenstiftung für internationale Kooperation (DSIK) to promote sustainable banking practices in Nepal.
The partnership, supported by Germany’s Federal Ministry for Economic Cooperation and Development (BMZ), is part of a regional initiative aimed at advancing the social and environmental transformation of the financial sector across selected Asian countries.
The agreement was signed by Ram Chandra Khanal, Chief Executive Officer of Kumari Bank, and Dr. Ilonka Rühl Stern, Head of the Asia Division at DSIK.
Under the partnership, the two organizations will implement a two-phase program to institutionalize and expand sustainable banking practices. DSIK will provide technical assistance, including ESG risk assessment tools, sustainable finance frameworks, and international best practices to strengthen the bank’s green finance initiatives.
Arpan Paudel, Head of Sustainable Banking at Kumari Bank, said the collaboration marks a significant milestone in the bank’s sustainable banking journey and is expected to support green finance, low-carbon development, and sustainable entrepreneurship.
The agreement also includes capacity-building programs for rural communities and small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs), including the implementation of the DISK Business Game training program.
Kumari Bank currently operates 286 branches, 303 ATMs, 40 extension counters, 41 branchless banking units, and more than 1,100 POS terminals across Nepal. The bank said the partnership reflects its continued commitment to sustainable economic development and environmentally responsible banking practices.
