NRB Hosts Fintech Innovation Showcase 2026 to Promote Digital Financial Services
Nepal Rastra Bank (NRB) has organised the NRB Fintech Innovation Showcase Event 2026 in Kathmandu to promote technology-driven financial services and showcase emerging innovations in the fintech sector.
The event was organised by the Payment Systems Department of Nepal Rastra Bank at the bank's premises in Baluwatar on Sunday.
NRB Governor Prof. Dr. Biswo Nath Poudel inaugurated the event, highlighting the central bank's priority on promoting technology-based financial services. He said NRB has been working towards developing innovation-driven regulatory and supervisory frameworks to support the growth of financial technology.
Addressing the inaugural session, Governor Poudel highlighted the dual responsibility of the central bank amid the rapid expansion of fintech services. He noted that NRB must ensure financial stability, secure payment systems and customer protection while also managing emerging risks and challenges associated with financial technology and innovation.
He emphasised the need for greater coordination and collaboration among the Government of Nepal, regulatory authorities, banks and financial institutions, technology companies and other organisations operating in the financial sector to promote fintech innovation and development.
During the event, Deputy Governor Kiran Pandit highlighted the policy and structural initiatives undertaken by Nepal Rastra Bank to promote fintech development.
Similarly, Nischal Adhikari, Executive Director of the Payment Systems Department, outlined the objectives of the showcase and briefed participants on the regulatory arrangements introduced by NRB for technology-driven financial services.
The inaugural session was attended by Deputy Governor Dirgha Bahadur Rawal, senior NRB officials, chief executive officers of banks and financial institutions, representatives of government agencies, payment system operators, fintech companies and other stakeholders.
A total of 27 exhibition stalls were set up by banks and financial institutions and fintech companies as part of the showcase.
The exhibition featured innovations across various areas of digital financial services, including digital banking, digital payments, digital lending, cybersecurity systems, cloud computing, financial fraud and risk management, and regulatory technology (RegTech).
More than 1,000 visitors from Nepal Rastra Bank, banks and financial institutions, fintech companies and other relevant organisations visited the exhibition to explore the latest technological developments and innovations in the financial sector.
The event also featured a panel discussion on the theme 'Digital Lending and Credit for Underserved', focusing on the role of digital financial solutions in expanding access to credit for underserved communities.
The discussion was moderated by Manoj Ghimire from Fintech Alliance Nepal. The panellists included Nischal Adhikari, Executive Director of NRB's Payment Systems Department; Suman Pokharel, Deputy Chief Executive Officer of Global IME Bank; and Amit Agrawal, President of Fintech Alliance Nepal.
The discussion explored the potential of digital lending to improve financial inclusion and expand credit access through technology-driven solutions.
The showcase is part of Nepal Rastra Bank's broader efforts to strengthen the country's fintech ecosystem under its recently introduced 'Fintech Strategy for Digital Financial Services (2026/27–2030/31)'.
The strategy aims to promote coordination and collaboration with innovators and other stakeholders across the fintech ecosystem.
Under the strategy, NRB has also developed the 'NRB Fintech Nexus' mechanism to enhance the effectiveness of the Digital Finance Innovation Hub (DiFi-Hub) and Regulatory Sandbox.
The central bank organised the Fintech Innovation Showcase under this initiative to provide a platform for fintech companies and financial institutions to demonstrate their innovations, exchange ideas and strengthen collaboration.
NRB has also planned to organise additional initiatives, including fintech workshops, hackathons and innovation challenges, in the future to encourage innovation and support the development of digital financial services in Nepal.
