Mutual Trust Bank Partners With Runner Motors For Commercial Vehicle Auto Lease Financing

Dhaka, September 25, 2026 — Mutual Trust Bank PLC (MTB) has signed a memorandum of understanding (MoU) with Runner Motors PLC, an automobile company and business unit of Runner Group, to facilitate auto lease financing for eligible customers purchasing commercial vehicles from the company.

👥 Signing Ceremony

Chowdhury Akhtar Asif, additional managing director and chief business officer of the bank, and Rajesh Kumar Yadav, chief financial officer of Runner Motors, signed the MoU at the MTB Centre at the bank's corporate head office in Dhaka. Also present were:

• 💼 Mohammad Mamun Faruk — deputy managing director of the bank
• 💼 Sanjib Kumar Dey — head of the SME and agri-banking division
• 💼 Iftekhar Aziz — head of SME-CRM
• 💼 Other senior officials from both organisations

🚚 What The Partnership Covers

Under the MoU:

• 🚚 Runner Motors will refer prospective SME and corporate customers seeking to purchase commercial vehicles to Mutual Trust Bank for consideration for auto lease financing facilities.
• 🚚 The arrangement will also facilitate financing opportunities for future EV passenger vehicles — subject to applicable eligibility criteria and regulatory requirements.
• 🚚 The initiative aims to provide convenient and structured financing solutions to SME and corporate customers engaged in logistics, transportation and other business activities.

🚗 Runner Motors: Bangladesh's Automotive Manufacturer

Runner Motors PLC is a business unit of Runner Group, one of Bangladesh's largest automotive and industrial conglomerates. Runner Group's operations include:

• 🚗 Commercial vehicle manufacturing — including trucks, pickups, and three-wheelers.
• 🚗 Motorcycle assembly — under various brand partnerships.
• 🚗 Electric vehicle initiatives — with plans for EV passenger vehicles.
• 🚗 Agricultural machinery — including tractors and farm equipment.
• 🚗 Distribution network — nationwide dealership and service network.

💼 Why Vehicle Financing Matters For Bangladesh

Bangladesh's commercial vehicle market has been growing steadily, driven by:

• 🚚 Logistics sector growth — with e-commerce expansion increasing demand for delivery vehicles.
• 🚚 Infrastructure development — including the Padma Bridge, metro rail, and highway expansion driving commercial vehicle demand.
• 🚚 RMG sector transport needs — for raw material and finished goods movement.
• 🚚 Agricultural mechanisation — increasing demand for farm vehicles and equipment.
• 🚚 Urbanisation — driving demand for passenger and commercial vehicles in cities.

🔌 The EV Dimension

The MoU's inclusion of future EV passenger vehicles is particularly significant. Bangladesh's EV market is at an early stage but growing rapidly:

• 🔌 Electric three-wheelers (easy bikes) — already widely used in rural and peri-urban areas.
• 🔌 Electric bus initiatives — with Dhaka and Chattogram exploring EV public transport.
• 🔌 EV passenger vehicles — with growing interest from environmentally conscious consumers.
• 🔌 Government policy support — for EV adoption as part of climate commitments.
• 🔌 Charging infrastructure — slowly developing but still limited.

The partnership's EV provision positions both MTB and Runner Motors for the expected growth in Bangladesh's electric vehicle market.

💼 Mutual Trust Bank's SME And Corporate Financing Strategy

For Mutual Trust Bank, the Runner Motors partnership supports the bank's broader SME and corporate financing strategy:

• 💰 SME lending expansion — targeting underserved SME segments.
• 💰 Asset-backed financing — with vehicles as collateral.
• 💰 Partnership-based origination — leveraging manufacturer relationships for customer referrals.
• 💰 Green financing alignment — through EV vehicle financing.

📜 Looking Ahead

The collaboration between Mutual Trust Bank and Runner Motors aims to provide convenient and customer-focused financing solutions while supporting business growth and contributing to the development of Bangladesh's automotive sector. The partnership will:

• 🚚 Improve access to vehicle financing for SME and corporate customers.
• 🚚 Support Runner Motors' sales growth through financing facilitation.
• 🚚 Strengthen MTB's position in the commercial vehicle financing segment.
• 🚚 Prepare for EV market growth through the partnership's EV provisions.

For Bangladesh's logistics and transportation sector, the partnership represents a positive development — improving access to affordable vehicle financing and supporting the sector's continued expansion alongside the country's broader economic growth.