Freelancer-Friendly Finance: Standard Chartered Launches Zero-Cost Account Opening in Banglades

Freelancers in Bangladesh can now open accounts with Standard Chartered Bank free of charge and from the comfort of their homes. The initiative was officially launched on Sunday (April 20) during an event held at a hotel in Dhaka. The service was jointly inaugurated by Lutful Habib, Head of Wealth and Retail Banking at Standard Chartered Bank, and Dr. Tanziba Rahman, Chairperson of the Bangladesh Freelancer Development Society (BFDS).

During the launch, Lutful Habib stated that freelancers would be able to open both USD and BDT accounts without any account opening fee. He added, “There are no maintenance charges for operating the account, and there are no additional costs for receiving an international debit card. Remittance certificates can also be obtained at no cost.” He further mentioned that freelancers will receive special concessions on processing and annual fees for personal loans.

Highlighting the bank's legacy, he said, “Standard Chartered Bank was the first to introduce Letters of Credit (LC), debit and credit cards, and call centers in post-independence Bangladesh. In continuation of this legacy, we have taken this initiative to contribute to the country’s growing freelancing sector.”

“Bangladesh is currently the second-largest freelancing nation in the world after India. This sector generates nearly USD 1 billion in foreign income annually. Our goal is to raise this figure to USD 2 billion by 2030,” Lutful Habib added, emphasizing the importance of preparing a skilled workforce to achieve that milestone.

Speaking at the event, Dr. Tanziba Rahman noted that over one million freelancers in Bangladesh have trained themselves independently and are actively working in the global marketplace. She stressed the need for proper facilities and institutional training to help them compete internationally. “If we can enhance the skills of our youth, Bangladesh can harness the demographic dividend to gain a stronger foothold in the global freelancing arena,” she concluded.