The Commercial Bank of Ceylon has further strengthened its focus on delivering a superior customer experience with the expansion of its ‘ComBank Shakthi’ Agency Banking network by 22 new outlets across the country, strengthening its commitment to making banking services more accessible to communities beyond the reach of traditional branches.

With this expansion, the Bank’s Agency Banking network now spans 26 locations island-wide, including the four outlets established earlier. The initiative reflects Commercial Bank’s ongoing focus on inclusivity and customer convenience, ensuring that essential banking services are available to people across geographic and demographic boundaries.

The ‘ComBank Shakthi’ Agency Banking model enables the Bank to partner with carefully selected third-party agents, typically trusted local businesses or individuals, who function as intermediaries between the Bank and its customers. Through these authorised agents, customers are able to carry out essential banking transactions such as cash deposits, withdrawals, fund transfers, balance inquiries and bill payments at locations that are closer and more convenient to them.

The model is powered by specialised Point of Sale (POS) devices equipped with the Bank’s proprietary software, enabling secure, encrypted connectivity with the Bank’s core banking systems. Transactions are processed in real time, with customers receiving printed receipts and SMS confirmations, ensuring both reliability and transparency while maintaining the highest standards of security.

Commercial Bank said the expansion of the ComBank Shakthi network represents another step in its strategy to extend formal banking services to underserved and unbanked communities while maintaining operational efficiency in a rapidly evolving financial landscape. By providing a convenient, technology-enabled channel for everyday banking transactions, the initiative reduces the time and cost that customers would otherwise spend travelling to the nearest branch to manage their financial needs.

The Bank’s Agency Banking operations are closely integrated with the activities of its Agriculture and Micro Finance Units (AMFU), leveraging the strong relationships and community connections built by AMFU staff in rural areas. This approach enables the Bank to expand its reach while building on established trust within local communities.

In addition to enhancing customer convenience, the Bank said this initiative supports broader financial inclusion by enabling more individuals and small businesses to access formal banking services, build savings, conduct transactions securely, and participate more actively in the financial system.

The newly added ComBank Shakthi Agency Banking outlets are located in Katupotha, Hengamuwa, Budumuttawa, Malwathuhiripitiya, Udugampola, Koswatte, Kotiyakumbura, Akkarayankulam, Oddusudan, Baduraliya, Bombuwala, Yattapatha, Kadihingala, Batukotuwa, Wanathawilluwa, Vankalai, Pesalai, Akkaraipattu, Thirukkovil, Siththandi, Puthukkudirippu and Lahugala. These join the four pilot locations established earlier at Tissamaharama, Hambantota, Siyambalanduwa and Buttala.

The Agency Banking outlets complement Commercial Bank’s existing network of 272 bank-operated branches across Sri Lanka, bringing the Bank’s total number of physical customer access points to 298.

Commercial Bank said the continued expansion of ComBank Shakthi underscores its commitment to leveraging innovative service delivery models to bring formal financial services closer to communities throughout the country, supporting economic participation and empowering more people to engage with the banking system.

Commercial Bank is the first Sri Lankan bank with a market capitalisation exceeding US$ 1 Bn. and was also the first bank in the country to be listed among the Top 1000 Banks of the World.  Commercial Bank has the highest capital base among all Sri Lankan banks, is the largest private sector lender in Sri Lanka, and the largest lender to the country’s SME sector.  Ranked No. 1 in the Business Today Top 40, Commercial Bank is recognised as the most respected and most-awarded Bank in Sri Lanka. Commercial Bank is also a leader in digital innovation and is Sri Lanka’s first 100% carbon-neutral bank.

Commercial Bank has the widest international footprint among Sri Lankan banks, with 20 branches in Bangladesh, a fully-fledged Tier I Bank with a majority stake in the Maldives, a microfinance company in Myanmar, and a representative office in the Dubai International Financial Centre (DIFC). The Bank’s fully owned subsidiaries, CBC Finance PLC and Commercial Insurance Brokers (Pvt) Limited, also deliver a range of financial services via their own branch networks.