A Bangladesh Bank report shows a clear move to digital payments, with virtual prepaid cards making up 88 percent of all prepaid cards issued, and this shift is helping people pay online faster and more safely. Banks issued 97.2 lakh prepaid cards in the review period, and 85.2 lakh of them were virtual, which means most new card users now get a card that works right away in apps and online shops without waiting for a plastic card. The wider card market still uses physical debit and credit cards: banks issued 4.28 crore debit cards and 26.5 lakh credit cards, but only 10,439 debit cards and 2,664 credit cards were virtual, showing that virtual adoption started with prepaid services. Virtual debit, credit and prepaid cards let users buy online, subscribe to services, transfer money and make international payments instantly. The report also finds that the number and value of local and foreign currency transactions rose by about two percent, with transactions worth Tk 46,353 crore carried out over 5.24 crore payments, which points to steady growth in digital activity across the country. Bangladesh’s own Taka Pay debit card registered 170,527 issuances, and the national scheme aims to make payments simpler and reduce reliance on international networks. Internet banking is growing too: the number of internet banking customers increased by 2.46 percent from the prior month. Fifty-six scheduled banks now offer internet banking to roughly 1.22 crore customers, and about three out of five of these customers use mobile apps as their main banking tool. These online users transacted Tk 108,628 crore during the period. Physical banking services are also adapting to digital demand, with 11,395 fully online branches and 4,845 physical sub-branches supporting customers across cities and towns. New cash deposit and recycling machines, which allow real-time deposits, are becoming more popular than traditional ATMs and their numbers rose modestly. The report suggests that banks, regulators and payment providers can keep this momentum by improving user education, strengthening security and privacy, widening access to low-cost digital cards, and building better support for mobile users. For everyday people, the shift means faster account setup, easier online buying, and more ways to send and receive money. Banks see a chance to reach more customers, tech partners can design tools that fit local needs, and merchants can accept payments with fewer hurdles. Simple workshops, clear guides and quick help lines can teach users to use virtual cards safely, and fast complaint systems will build trust so more shops and small businesses accept digital payments, helping the payment network grow steadily and reach more people across towns and cities. This change offers clear benefits for customers, businesses and the economy today.
