NRB concludes fintech showcase, highlights innovation push

• More than 1,000 visitors attend event as central bank outlines fintech strategy and regulatory initiatives for digital financial services

KATHMANDU: Nepal Rastra Bank (NRB) concluded the 'NRB Fintech Innovation Showcase Event 2026' in Kathmandu on Monday. The event showcased emerging innovations in technology-based financial services and drew participation from banks, financial institutions, fintech companies and other stakeholders.

Governor Prof Dr Biswo Nath Poudel inaugurated the event organised by the NRB's Payment Systems Department at the central bank's premises in Baluwatar.

Addressing the inaugural session, Poudel said the central bank has consistently given high priority to the promotion of technology-based financial services. He said NRB has a dual responsibility to address challenges arising from the expansion of fintech while developing innovation-based regulatory and supervisory systems.

“On the one hand, we must ensure financial stability, secure payments and customer protection, while on the other hand, we must also manage new risks and challenges linked with the development of financial technology and innovation,” he said.

Governor Poudel said coordination and collaboration among the Government of Nepal, regulatory bodies, banks and financial institutions (BFIs), technology companies and other organisations active in the financial sector are necessary for the development of fintech innovation. He added that the central bank is actively working in that direction.

A total of 27 stalls operated by financial institutions and fintech companies were showcased during the event. The exhibition featured innovations in digital banking, digital payments, digital lending, cybersecurity systems, cloud computing, financial fraud and risk management, and regulatory technology (RegTech) services.

According to the central bank, more than 1,000 individuals from NRB, BFIs, fintech companies and other organisations visited the exhibition.

A panel discussion on 'Digital Lending and Credit for Underserved' was also held alongside the event. Manoj Ghimire moderated the discussion on behalf of Fintech Alliance Nepal, while NRB's Payment Systems Department Executive Director Nischal Adhikari, Global IME Bank Deputy Chief Executive Officer Suman Pokharel and Fintech Alliance Nepal President Amit Agrawal participated as panellists.

Deputy Governor Kiran Pandit outlined policy and structural initiatives undertaken by NRB to promote fintech, while Payment Systems Department Executive Director Adhikari highlighted the objectives of the programme and provided information on the central bank's arrangements for technology-based financial services.

NRB said its recently issued Fintech Strategy for Digital Financial Services (fiscal year 2026/27-2030/31) aims to strengthen coordination and collaboration with innovators and other stakeholders in the fintech ecosystem. Under the strategy, the central bank has established the NRB Fintech Nexus mechanism to support the effective operation of the Digital Finance Innovation Hub (DiFi-Hub) and Regulatory Sandbox.

The central bank said it plans to organise fintech workshops, hackathons and innovation challenges under the initiative in the future.

The inaugural session was attended by Deputy Governor Dirgha Bahadur Rawal, senior NRB officials, CEOs of BFIs, representatives of government agencies, payment system operators, fintech companies and other stakeholder organisations.