Bank base rates in Nepal can change from month to month. Comparing the latest rates with previous months can help you understand how base rates have moved and how the position of different banks has changed over time.
Based on the available Bhadra 2083 figures, the base rates in this comparison range from 4.12% to 5.80%. Standard Chartered Bank has the lowest reported base rate at 4.12%, while NIC Asia has the highest at 5.80%.
However, the bank with the lowest base rate does not necessarily offer the lowest loan interest rate. The premium added to the base rate and other loan terms also matter.
Here is a comparison of the latest commercial bank base rates and their movement over the past three months.
The table below shows the Bhadra 2083 base rates for the commercial banks covered in this comparison.
| Bank | Bhadra Base Rate |
| Standard Chartered Bank | 4.12% |
| Rastriya Banijya Bank | 4.13% |
| Everest Bank Ltd. | 4.25% |
| Nabil Bank | 4.42% |
| Nepal Bank Limited | 4.45% |
| Nepal Investment Mega Bank | 4.63% |
| Agriculture Development Bank | 4.66% |
| Global IME Bank | 4.67% |
| Sanima Bank | 4.79% |
| Prabhu Bank | 4.94% |
| Prime Commercial Bank | 4.95% |
| Machhapuchhre Bank Limited | 4.95% |
| Siddhartha Bank | 4.96% |
| Laxmi Sunrise Bank | 4.99% |
| Kumari Bank Limited | 5.03% |
| NMB Bank | 5.06% |
| Citizens Bank | 5.07% |
| Nepal SBI Bank | 5.14% |
| Himalayan Bank | 5.31% |
| NIC Asia | 5.80% |
Note: The comparison is based on the available Bhadra 2083 figures for the banks covered. Base rates may change in subsequent periods. These figures only show the base-rate position in the available data and do not indicate which bank offers the lowest final loan interest rate.
Not necessarily. A bank's base rate is a reference rate used when pricing loans. The actual interest rate can vary depending on the loan product, premium added to the base rate and other applicable terms.
For example, suppose two banks offer similar loans:
| Bank A | Bank B | |
| Base rate | 4.5% | 5% |
| Premium | 3% | 2% |
| Lending rate | 7.5% | 7% |
Bank A has the lower base rate, but its higher premium results in a higher lending rate. Bank B has a higher base rate, but its lower premium results in a lower lending rate.
This is why base rate should be treated as a starting point when comparing loans, not the final answer.
Before choosing a loan, check: Base rate, applicable premium, final lending rate, fees and charges and other loan terms
The key takeaway is simple: the lowest base rate does not always mean the cheapest loan.
Comparing the Ashad, Shrawan and Bhadra 2083 figures shows that most banks recorded a decline in their base rates over the three-month period.
Among the banks with complete data, Agriculture Development Bank recorded the largest decline, with its base rate falling by 0.28 percentage point from Ashad to Bhadra. Kumari Bank followed with a decline of 0.24 percentage point.
Several other banks also recorded smaller reductions. Prime Commercial Bank's base rate fell from 5.18% in Ashad to 4.95% in Bhadra, while Sanima Bank's declined from 4.99% to 4.79%. Global IME Bank moved from 4.83% to 4.67%, and Nabil Bank's rate fell from 4.53% to 4.42%.
At the lower end of the comparison, Standard Chartered Bank's base rate moved from 4.21% in Ashad to 4.23% in Shrawan before falling to 4.12% in Bhadra. Rastriya Banijya Bank also recorded a gradual decline, moving from 4.22% to 4.17% and then 4.13%.
Everest Bank's base rate declined from 4.38% in Ashad to 4.25% in Bhadra, a decrease of 0.13 percentage point. Himalayan Bank was relatively stable, moving from 5.39% in Ashad to 5.31% in Shrawan and remaining at 5.31% in Bhadra.
Overall, the figures show that base rates moved downward for most banks, but the size and pattern of the change varied across banks. Looking at multiple months therefore provides more context than comparing a single month's ranking.
Checking the base rate of every bank separately can take time, particularly when rates are updated regularly.
Saral Banking Sewa brings available bank base-rate information together so you can compare rates in one place and track their movement over time.
If you are comparing a loan, use the base rate as a starting point. Also check the applicable premium, final lending rate, fees, charges and other loan conditions before making a decision.
Compare the latest bank base rates on Saral Banking Sewa and make a more informed loan comparison.
