Around 6,000 depositors withdrew nearly Tk 250 crore from Sammilito Islami Bank on the first day of a programme to return deposits held with five troubled Islamic banks that were merged into the new lender.
Bank officials said withdrawals on the first day were lower than expected.
First Security Islami Bank, Social Islami Bank, Union Bank, Global Islami Bank and EXIM Bank have been merged into Sammilito Islami Bank. The five banks have a combined network of 761 branches.
A total of 74,221 applications were submitted by customers seeking to withdraw their deposits, with claims amounting to Tk 3,925 crore.
Bangladesh Bank provided Sammilito Islami Bank with Tk 5,000 crore on Sunday to facilitate the repayment of depositors. The bank`s head office then sent funds to different branches on Monday morning according to their requirements.
Visits to several branches in the capital`s Motijheel, Paltan and Malibagh areas on Monday showed customers arriving from the morning to withdraw deposits that had remained inaccessible for a long period.
Many customers were able to withdraw their money without complications and expressed relief after finally receiving their savings.
A depositor who came to withdraw money from a former EXIM Bank branch in Motijheel said he had been worried for a long time because he had been unable to access his deposits. He said he was relieved to finally be able to withdraw the money.
Sammilito Islami Bank Managing Director and Chief Executive Officer Md Abedur Rahman Sikder said no customer who came to withdraw deposits would be turned away.
“Those who come to withdraw their money will be repaid,” he said.
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