The Pakistan Credit Rating Agency (PACRA) has maintained the long-term and short-term entity ratings of First Women Bank Limited at "BBB+" (Triple B Plus) and "A2" (A two), respectively. These ratings denote a low expectation of credit risk emanating from an adequate capacity for timely payment of financial commitments.

The ratings reflect the bank’s limited size and franchise value, making it increasingly difficult for FWBL to compete in the highly competitive banking sector. Although the bank has a reasonable branch network and it has achieved an appreciable YoY growth in advances, the advances-to-deposit ratio remains low. This is attributable to constraints faced in terms of efficacy of credit processes and supporting systems, and also to the bank’s focus on women borrowers, where the identified avenues are relatively restricted. At the same time, the ratings recognize the management’s continuing initiatives at improving the quality of systems and processes, development of human resource and technology infrastructure for strengthening the bank’s institutional capacity.

About the bank: First Women Bank Ltd. (FWBL) was established in 1989 with a vision to be the leading bank for women, catering to the special economic needs of women both in urban & rural areas of Pakistan and enabling them to participate more actively in the economic process. The original five nationalized commercial banks – with four subsequently privatized – and Ministry of Women Development owns the bank’s share capital, each having one nominee director on the BoD. The bank currently operates through a network of 38 branches spread over 23 cities nationwide and has over 500 employees.