Bangladeshi deposits at Swiss banks jump 41% in 2025

Bangladeshi people deposited funds worth more than Tk3,000 crore in Swiss banks last year, surging by 41% from the previous year, according to data released by the Swiss central bank on Thursday.

The surge in deposits to Swiss banks, globally known for facilitating illegal financial flows, revives concerns over money laundering following the ouster of the corrupt Awami League regime.

As per the Swiss National Bank data, nearly Tk12,765 crore in Bangladeshi deposits were parked in Swiss banks and their foreign branches last year, rising from about Tk8,800 crore recorded in 2024.

It is worth mentioning that the deposits at Swiss banks cannot be automatically classified as illegal funds. However, a sudden surge does pose challenge for the government in preventing capital flights as well as money laundering.

The new deposits in 2025 were the second highest in at least ten years, and potentially the second-highest ever recorded.

Read More

Speaker seeks US support to recover laundered funds from abroad

After the 2008 financial crisis and the Covid pandemic, Swiss banking authorities faced increased global pressure to stop affording financial secrecy to their clients.

A number of reforms have been adopted by Swiss banking authorities, leading to a decreased appeal among foreign launderers. And yet, even while places like Dubai and Singapore have emerged as new hotspots for corrupt money, Swiss banks continue to be a favourite spot for storing illicit funds as can be perceived from the huge foreign deposits.