Saving Deposits Jump 39% in a Year as Household Banking Accelerates in Nepal

Saving deposits in Nepal’s banking system have seen a massive 39 percent year-on-year rise, reaching Rs. 2.70 trillionby mid-August 2025, according to the latest Other Depository Corporation Survey of Nepal Rastra Bank (NRB). This dramatic increase highlights growing public trust in the formal banking network and the acceleration of household-level financial inclusion.

The data show that residential saving deposits alone soared 39.1 percent to Rs. 2.68 trillion, underscoring the growing habit of Nepalis to save formally rather than hold idle cash. Improved access to digital banking, competitive interest rates, and the post-Dashain liquidity surge have contributed to this growth. In contrast, non-residential savings—mainly institutional and diaspora accounts—grew 44.1 percent, signaling greater inflows from abroad and stronger remittance-linked deposits.

Economists note that the expansion in saving deposits reflects renewed financial discipline and confidence following a period of cautious spending and reduced consumption. The growth of retail deposits also provides banks with cheaper, more stable funding sources—supporting lending capacity without sharply raising interest rates.

NRB officials said that the deposit growth aligns with the central bank’s target of strengthening domestic savings and deepening financial access, particularly in rural municipalities where digital wallet penetration and cooperative banking are rising rapidly.