Bhutan Development Bank review

Updated September 28, 2026 · BorrowCue Editorial Team · Facts checked September 26, 2026

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Our verdict

Bhutan Development Bank suits Bhutanese borrowers with a reliable income who want personal, secured or business lending direct from the lender. Personal loans run over 60 months with help on phone, email and help centre, and the bank has lent at home since 1988.

Key facts

Best for
A single lender for personal, secured and business borrowing in Bhutan.
APR
13.5% (Source, checked September 26, 2026)
Loan amount
BTN 500,000 (Source, checked September 26, 2026)
Term
60 months (Source, checked September 26, 2026)
Credit check
Hard (Source, checked September 26, 2026)
Rate type
Variable (Source, checked September 26, 2026)
Lender type
Direct lender (Source, checked September 26, 2026)
Eligibility
Any Bhutanese individual having a reliable source of income; must be 18 years and above; must be creditworthy (Source, checked September 26, 2026)
Loan types
Personal, Secured, Business (Source, checked September 26, 2026)
Legal entity
Bhutan Development Bank Limited (Source, checked September 26, 2026)
Headquarters
Bhutan (Source, checked September 26, 2026)
Founded
1988 (Source, checked September 26, 2026)
Support channels
Phone, Email, Help-centre (Source, checked September 26, 2026)
Official website
bdb.bt

Apps and profiles

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Pros and cons

Pros

  • Personal loans of up to BTN 500,000 come straight from the bank rather than a broker.
  • A single lender covers personal, secured and business borrowing, keeping every need in a single relationship.
  • Help is available on phone, email and help centre.
  • The bank has operated in Bhutan since 1988.

Cons

  • A hard credit check ends the application early for anyone with a shaky credit history.
  • Pricing is on a variable basis, so the cost of a balance left outstanding can move.
  • A 60 month term is a long commitment, ranked 57 of 232 brands on term length.
Bhutan Development Bank

Ready to try Bhutan Development Bank?

Scored 9.2 / 10 by BorrowCue.

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Who it suits

  • Adults in Bhutan with a reliable source of income and a creditworthy file, which is what the bank asks for.
  • Borrowers who want personal, secured and business lending from a single lender rather than a broker.
  • People who can live with a variable rate on a personal loan and a long term.

Who should look elsewhere

  • Borrowers who need a fixed rate to budget against, since pricing here is variable rather than fixed. Cashspace ES, listed at 0% APR, is the cost comparison.
  • Applicants who cannot clear a hard credit check, and borrowers weighing Monzo Flex, whose rate band of 10% to 23% APR starts below the 13.5% charged here.

How Bhutan Development Bank compares

Where Bhutan Development Bank is available

Available
Bhutan
Licence in Bhutan
Financial Institutions Act 1992 (banking licence granted March 2010), checked September 26, 2026

Countries from the brand (Source, checked September 26, 2026)

Frequently asked questions

What APR does Bhutan Development Bank charge on a personal loan?+

The personal loan rate is 13.5% APR, which sits above the site figure of 12%. On the site's APR ranking the bank holds position 199 of 350 brands, so cheaper lenders are available if cost is the deciding factor.

How much can I borrow, and over what term?+

The personal loan ceiling is BTN 500,000 and the term runs 60 months. On term length that places the bank at 57 of 232 brands, towards the longer end of what the site lists. Loans are arranged direct with the bank.

Is the interest rate fixed or variable?+

Pricing on the personal loan uses a variable basis, so the rate applied to an outstanding balance can change over the life of the loan. Anyone who needs a predictable monthly cost for budgeting would be better served by a lender that publishes a fixed rate.

What credit check does the bank run?+

The check is hard, so the decision rests on a full credit assessment rather than a light prequalification. Applicants are also expected to be creditworthy and to have a reliable source of income, which narrows the pool that should bother applying.

Who can apply for a loan?+

Eligibility covers Bhutanese individuals with a reliable source of income who are adults and creditworthy. The bank is based in Bhutan and lends as Bhutan Development Bank Limited, so the borrowing relationship is domestic and built for residents rather than applicants from outside the country.

Is Bhutan Development Bank regulated?+

It holds a banking licence under Bhutan's financial institutions law. Lending runs through Bhutan Development Bank Limited as a direct lender, so the contract is with the bank itself rather than a broker or marketplace, and the borrower deals with a single counterparty throughout.

What kinds of loan does the bank offer?+

The rate sheet lists personal, secured and business lending, so those needs are handled in a single relationship. The bank has operated since 1988 and, as a direct lender, takes the application itself rather than passing it to another party.

How do I get help from the bank?+

Support runs on phone, email and help centre, so a call, an email or the help centre covers most questions before and during an application. Phone is the most direct route listed, and the help centre is the place to check eligibility wording before sending anything.

Sources

  • bdb.bt/background checked September 26, 2026

    Backs: Founded, Headquarters, Legal entity, Lender type, Licences

    “was incorporated by the Royal Charter, in January 1988”

  • bdb.bt/contact-us checked September 26, 2026

    Backs: Support channels

    “Call us at 1424; Email Address info@bdb.bt”

  • bdb.bt/loan-rates checked September 26, 2026

    Backs: Loan types

    “Personal Loan (Mortgage Loan) ... Agricultural & Livestock Loan ... General Trade Loan”

  • bdb.bt/loan/personal-loan checked September 26, 2026

    Backs: Loan amount, APR, Credit check, Eligibility, Rate type, Term

    “QUANTUM The maximum limit is Nu. 500,000 per person at a time or 60% LTI whichever is lower.”

Compiled from 4 source pages, checked September 26, 2026. We did not open an account.

Not confirmed yet: Arrangement fee, Funding time, Representative example.

Bhutan Development Bank

Bhutan Development Bank

A single lender for personal, secured and business borrowing in Bhutan.

9.2/10See alternatives

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