Bangladesh, Aug. 27 -- Bangladesh Bank has introduced major changes to its digital banking policy, preventing any company without at least three years of continuous business operations from applying for a digital banking licence.

The revised guidelines, published Tuesday in Digital Bank Guidelines 2, also prohibit existing banks or non-bank financial institutions (NBFIs) from applying as sponsors of digital banks -- a departure from the 2023 version of the policy.

To qualify as a sponsor, a company must present audited financial statements for the past three consecutive years, reflecting ongoing operations. No company will be granted a licence immediately after incorporation, the central bank confirmed.

Assistant spokesperson Shahriar ...