Base Rate of All Commercial Banks in Nepal (Asar 2083) — Full List
All 20 commercial banks ranked by base rate for 2026 (Asar 2083), with spreads, market stats and a worked loan example.
As of Asar 2083 (June 2026), RBB has the lowest base rate at 4.22% among Nepal's 20 commercial banks, while Citizens is highest at 8.19% — a 3.97 percentage-point gap. The base rate is the floor for every floating loan (your loan rate = base rate + a fixed premium), so a lower base rate generally means cheaper borrowing.
Base rate of all commercial banks — full ranking
All 20 banks, lowest base rate first, for Asar 2083. The implied minimum lending rate adds each bank's published spread to its base rate.
| Rank | Bank | Base rate | Published spread | Implied min. lending rate |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | RBB | 4.22% | 3.37% | 7.59% |
| 2 | SCB | 4.23% | 3.88% | 8.11% |
| 3 | Everest | 4.32% | 3.04% | 7.36% |
| 4 | Nabil | 4.58% | 3.38% | 7.96% |
| 5 | Nepal Bank | 4.59% | 3.58% | 8.17% |
| 6 | NIMB | 4.80% | — | — |
| 7 | ADBL | 4.86% | 3.54% | 8.40% |
| 8 | Global IME | 4.89% | 3.28% | 8.17% |
| 9 | Sanima | 4.97% | 3.64% | 8.61% |
| 10 | Siddhartha | 5.03% | 3.62% | 8.65% |
| 11 | MBL | 5.08% | 3.50% | 8.58% |
| 12 | NMB | 5.12% | — | — |
| 13 | Prabhu | 5.12% | 3.35% | 8.47% |
| 14 | Laxmi Sunrise | 5.16% | 3.28% | 8.44% |
| 15 | Nepal SBI | 5.25% | 3.28% | 8.53% |
| 16 | Kumari | 5.27% | 3.12% | 8.39% |
| 17 | Prime | 5.30% | — | — |
| 18 | Himalayan | 5.31% | 2.66% | 7.97% |
| 19 | NIC Asia | 6.01% | — | — |
| 20 | Citizens | 8.19% | — | — |
Market snapshot
Across 20 commercial banks the average base rate is 5.12% and the median is 5.05%. Rates run from 4.22% (RBB) to 8.19% (Citizens), a spread of 3.97 points — widely dispersed (standard deviation 0.82). 11 of 20 banks sit below the 5.12% average.
What the base rate is and why it moves
The base rate is the minimum lending rate a bank may charge. Under Nepal Rastra Bank (NRB) rules each bank computes it from its cost of funds, operating cost, the cost of holding CRR/SLR, and a small return on assets, published as a trailing average. Because it is regulated and refreshed regularly, it is the closest Nepali equivalent of a benchmark rate. Every floating loan is priced as base rate + a premium (spread), so when a bank's base rate falls, the rate on its floating loans drops at the next reset.
What the base rate means for your loan
Take the lowest base rate — RBB at 4.22%. Add an illustrative home-loan premium of 2.00% and the effective rate is 6.22%. On a Rs 50.00 lakh home loan over 20 years, that is an EMI of about Rs 36,459 per month and roughly Rs 37.50 lakh of total interest. At a bank one point higher the same loan costs about Rs 39,428 a month — around Rs 2,969 more every month. That is why the base rate matters. Run your own numbers with the EMI calculator. (The premium is illustrative; each bank sets its own.)
Every bank, grouped by base rate
- Most competitive: RBB (4.22%), SCB (4.23%), Everest (4.32%), Nabil (4.58%), Nepal Bank (4.59%)
- Upper tier: NIMB (4.80%), ADBL (4.86%), Global IME (4.89%), Sanima (4.97%), Siddhartha (5.03%)
- Lower tier: MBL (5.08%), NMB (5.12%), Prabhu (5.12%), Laxmi Sunrise (5.16%), Nepal SBI (5.25%)
- Least competitive: Kumari (5.27%), Prime (5.30%), Himalayan (5.31%), NIC Asia (6.01%), Citizens (8.19%)
How we sourced these figures
Every rate on this page is taken from each institution's published rate sheet for the Asar 2083 (June 2026) period and cross-checked against Nepal Rastra Bank (NRB) disclosures. We re-verify the numbers each Nepali month, and the comparison table and the figures quoted in the text are generated from the same dataset — so they always agree. You can explore the live, filterable data on the BFIS Compare comparison page.
Related comparisons
Rates are revised every Nepali month and can change. Figures are for Asar 2083; always confirm the current number on the BFIS Compare comparison page before you apply.
Frequently asked questions
Which bank has the lowest base rate in Nepal 2026?+
RBB at 4.22%, as of Asar 2083. The market average is 5.12%.
What is a base rate?+
It is the minimum lending rate a bank can charge, built from its cost of funds, operating cost, CRR/SLR cost and a small return on assets, under NRB rules. Floating loans add a premium on top.
How does the base rate affect my loan?+
A floating loan rate = base rate + a fixed premium. If the bank's base rate falls, your rate falls at the next reset; if it rises, so does your EMI.
What is the published spread?+
It is the maximum premium a bank says it will add over its base rate. A lower base rate plus a lower spread is the cheapest combination.
How often does the base rate change?+
Banks revise and publish it periodically (commonly monthly/quarterly) as their cost of funds moves with NRB policy.
What is the average base rate in Nepal right now?+
About 5.12% across 20 commercial banks for Asar 2083, ranging 4.22% to 8.19%.
Is a lower base rate always cheaper?+
Usually, but compare the effective rate (base + premium), because a low base rate with a high premium can cost more than a higher base rate with a small premium.
Where can I see all the base rates?+
On the BFIS Compare base-rate page, updated every Nepali month with each bank's published figure.
Written by
Sandeep Kumar ChaudharyFounder of BFIS Compare, writing about Nepal's banks, deposit rates and loans. sandeepkumarchaudhary.com