Banking News — Badri Guragain, Chief Executive Officer (CEO) of National Cooperative Bank, has urged that cooperatives be integrated into the Electronic Cheque Clearing (ECC) system.

Presenting recommendations to Nepal Rastra Bank for the Monetary Policy for Fiscal Year 2083/84 (2026/27), Guragain said bringing cooperatives under the ECC system is essential to improve financial transactions within the cooperative sector.

He noted that the cooperative sector currently holds around Rs. 1.2 trillion in deposits and Rs. 900 billion in loans and investments, yet the inability to participate in the ECC system has created significant operational challenges.

“The lack of access to the ECC system has affected internal fund transfers and created inefficiencies in transaction processing,” Guragain said.

He also urged Nepal Rastra Bank to allow cooperatives to restructure and reschedule concessional loans issued by cooperative institutions.

Pointing out that banks and financial institutions have already been provided with provisions for concessional loans and loan restructuring, Guragain said similar facilities should also be extended to cooperative banks that have provided subsidized loans to their members.