Open a Bank Account in Nepal

1. Choose the account before choosing the bank

An ordinary savings account is suitable for receiving money, paying bills, using a debit card and maintaining emergency savings. But a specialised account can be better when you receive salary, foreign remittance, pension or need a guardian-operated child account.

• Normal savings: daily personal transactions and general saving.
• Salary/payroll: salary credit and employer-linked benefits.
• Remittance: foreign-employment income and remittance-specific benefits.
• Minor/student: guardian operation or student-focused requirements.
• Senior/women-focused: eligibility-specific benefits and service bundles.
• NRN/foreign currency: residence, currency and source-of-funds rules.

2. Compare 10 major commercial banks

Nepal Rastra Bank currently licenses 20 Class-A commercial banks. This is a practical shortlist of 10 large or nationally significant banks—not an NRB quality ranking and not investment advice. The right choice depends on your branch location, preferred digital route and account type.

“Product-dependent” is intentional. Banks maintain several savings schemes, and minimum balances, bundled services and annual fees can change without a new page URL. Always open the product’s official page before applying.

3. Prepare the KYC documents and information

4. Information most bank KYC forms ask for

Prepare these before opening the formExact labels and mandatory fields vary by bank and account type.

IdentityFull name, DOB, nationality, citizenship/National ID details and issuing office/date

AddressesPermanent, present and correspondence address with province, district, local level, ward and tole

Work & incomeOccupation, employer/business, expected transactions, source of funds and estimated income

Family & nomineeParents/spouse where requested, nominee, relationship and emergency contact

ComplianceOther bank accounts, tax/PAN, PEP status, criminal/CIB declarations, FATCA/residency where applicable

ServicesDebit card, mobile/internet banking, cheque book, SMS, C-ASBA, DEMAT and MeroShare choices

Enter names and dates exactly as supported by your identity documents. If your citizenship, National ID and PAN use different spellings, resolve the mismatch or ask the bank what evidence it accepts before submitting multiple applications.

5. Official account-opening process at six banks

Open the bank below for the exact preparation and completion flow. The first digital form is not always the final activation step.

6. Salary, remittance and purpose-specific accounts

Salary account

Ask whether your employer has a payroll arrangement. The bank may need an employer letter or staff list, and benefits can depend on regular salary credits.

Remittance account

Use it only when the account’s remittance conditions match your income. Keep foreign-employment/remittance evidence and compare withdrawal, card and mobile costs—not only the promotional interest rate.

Student or professional account

Carry the student card, admission/employment evidence or professional registration requested by that product. Benefits can stop when eligibility ends.

7. Minor and joint accounts

Minor account

A parent or legal guardian normally operates the account. Prepare the child’s birth registration or minor ID, guardian’s citizenship and National ID/NIN, relationship/guardianship proof and photographs. Ask what happens when the child reaches adulthood and must update KYC/signature.

Joint account

Every joint holder completes identity and KYC verification. Decide the operating instruction—either holder, both jointly, or another permitted mandate—and understand how closure, cards, cheques and survivor operation work.

8. Account opening from abroad or as an NRN

Nabil, Global IME and other banks publish overseas or Video KYC routes. Prepare passport, valid visa/residence evidence, Nepal citizenship or NRN card as applicable, foreign contact/address and proof of source of funds/remittance.

9. After submission: verify activation and charges

1. Save the application/tracking reference and verification appointment.
2. Complete Video KYC or branch verification with the original documents.
3. Deposit the required opening/minimum balance through an authorised channel.
4. Confirm the exact account name, number, maintaining branch and operating status.
5. Collect or activate the debit card and change its PIN privately.
6. Activate mobile banking only from the official app/store listing.
7. Check annual service charges, transaction limits and nominee registration.
8. Request DEMAT/MeroShare/C-ASBA separately if they were not included.

Common mistakes to avoid

• Choosing a bank only because of one temporary interest-rate promotion.
• Using someone else’s mobile number or email for OTPs and alerts.
• Submitting unclear ID scans or names that do not match official records.
• Assuming an online form means the account is already active.
• Selecting a distant maintaining branch that is inconvenient for future KYC or card work.
• Activating every paid service without checking annual fees.
• Confusing minimum balance with the total first-year cost.
• Sharing OTP, ATM PIN or mobile-banking password with an agent or caller.
• Opening duplicate accounts instead of resuming the saved application.

Frequently asked questions