Press Release
VIS Assigns Initial Entity Ratings to Standard Chartered Bank (Pakistan) Limited
Karachi, June 30, 2026: VIS Credit Rating Company Limited (VIS) has assigned initial entity ratings to Standard Chartered Bank (Pakistan) Limited (‘SCBPL’ or the ‘Bank’) at ‘AAA/A1+’ (Triple A/A-One Plus). Medium to long term rating of ‘AAA' indicates highest credit quality; the risk factors are negligible, being only slightly more than for risk-free Government of Pakistan’s debt. Short-term rating of ‘A1+’ denotes strongest likelihood of timely repayment of short-term obligations with outstanding liquidity factors. Outlook on the assigned ratings is ‘Stable.’
SCBPL is a subsidiary of the global Standard Chartered Group, with its ultimate parent being Standard Chartered PLC, UK. Incorporated in July 2006, the Bank operates as a full-service commercial bank in Pakistan, serving corporate, institutional, retail, wealth management and Islamic banking customers. SCBPL maintains a network of 38 branches, including two Islamic banking branches, supported by 165 touchpoints across 10 cities. The Bank operates through two business segments: Corporate & Investment Banking (CIB) and Wealth & Retail Banking (WRB). CIB serves multinational corporations, local corporates, SMEs, financial institutions and sovereign clients, offering a comprehensive suite of products including cash management, trade finance, deposits, structured financing, advisory services, foreign exchange and derivative solutions. WRB caters to priority, premium, personal and business banking through a range of wealth management, deposit, mortgage, personal financing and card products. Treasury activities are managed under Central & Other Items, encompassing asset and liability management, liquidity management and strategic investments. The Bank differentiates itself through its strong digital banking capabilities and comprehensive Islamic banking offering under the Standard Chartered ‘Saadiq’ brand. Notably, SCBPL was the first international bank in Pakistan to obtain an Islamic banking license and establish an Islamic banking branch, reinforcing its position in the country's Islamic banking landscape.
The ratings of SCBPL reflect its strong franchise, strategic importance to the Standard Chartered Group, and support derived from being part of a leading international banking institution. The ratings are further supported by a sound governance framework, experienced management, and prudent risk management practices. The Bank benefits from a high-quality and liquid balance sheet, supported by a prudent lending strategy, strong asset quality indicators, active risk management, and limited market risk exposure. SCBPL has the highest CASA ratios in the banking sector, with a focus on optimum deposit mix, and is maintaining liquidity metrics that comfortably exceed regulatory requirements. The ratings also take into account the Bank's resilient profitability, diversified revenue streams and strong digital banking capabilities. Capitalization is strong, with a sizeable paid-up capital base, high-quality Tier-1 capital, and capital adequacy ratios providing substantial loss absorption capacity and headroom for future growth.
For further information on this ratings announcement, please contact at 021-35311861-64 or email at info@vis.com.pk.
Applicable Rating Criteria:
Financial Institutions
https://docs.vis.com.pk/Methodologies-2026/FI-Methodology-26.pdf
VIS Issue/Issuer Rating Scale
https://docs.vis.com.pk/docs/VISRatingScales.pdf