Bangladesh-based NRB Commercial Bank Ltd. expects to grow its operating profit for 2018 to 2.50 billion taka from 2 billion taka in the prior year, The Daily Star reported Jan. 21, citing Kazi Talha, the bank's managing director.

The bank made the forecast as it looks to improve its image and restore depositors' trust following a scandal involving gross irregularities by some of its officials. The bank restructured its board in December 2017 in line with the central bank's recommendations.

Talha said the bank is looking to collect fresh deposits of 13 billion taka in 2018 to take its deposit base to nearly 60 billion taka. At the same time, the bank will seek to grow its loan portfolio to 50 billion taka in 2018 from 42.95 billion in 2017.

As of Jan. 22, US$1 was equivalent to 82.97 Bangladeshi taka.