USD Business Account in Bangladesh: Options and Rules 2026

Key takeaways

An ERQ account is a foreign currency account at an authorized dealer bank in which a Bangladeshi exporter keeps the permitted share of its export earnings.
Bangladesh Bank's consolidated export circular of 30 July 2026 sets the period for repatriating export proceeds at four months.
The same circular states that retaining export proceeds abroad, other than in authorized accounts, contravenes Section 5(1)(e)(i) of the Foreign Exchange Regulation Act, 1947.
As reported on 22 July 2026, ICT freelancers may retain up to 50% of export earnings, other service exporters up to 30%, and merchandise exporters with high import content up to 15%.
Wise lists Bangladesh among addresses that cannot get USD account details, and Airwallex does not list Bangladesh as a supported registration location.
Helm does not currently provide USD account details to companies based in Bangladesh, and Bangladesh Bank does not permit transactions to obtain virtual assets.

USD business account options in Bangladesh: the short answer

A business in Bangladesh receives US dollars through an authorized dealer (AD) bank, a bank licensed by Bangladesh Bank to deal in foreign exchange. The dollar account most companies hold is the Export Retention Quota (ERQ) account, a foreign currency account in which an exporter keeps the share of its earnings that Bangladesh Bank allows it to retain. The rest is converted to taka.

Bangladesh's rules are stricter than those in many other markets. Bangladesh Bank sets them in circulars issued under the Foreign Exchange Regulation Act, 1947 (FER Act). They decide how fast export proceeds must arrive, how much may stay in dollars, and which channels freelancers and small exporters may use. They also treat keeping export proceeds abroad, outside authorized accounts, as a breach of the Act. That rule shapes every option in this guide, including online USD accounts from providers abroad.

The businesses that need dollars include garment and leather exporters, software firms and freelancers billing clients abroad, and importers paying suppliers in China, India and elsewhere. This guide covers the 2026 rules, the ERQ limits, foreign providers' own statements about Bangladesh, the US company route, documents, the legal position of crypto and stablecoins, and freelancer channels.

The options compared

The table compares the option types. It is not a ranking: for a company based in Bangladesh, the AD bank is the anchor and every other route has to fit around it.

Option	Account name and location	How payers pay it	Main rules and limits
ERQ account	Company's own name, AD bank in Bangladesh	International wire (SWIFT) through the bank's correspondent	Retention limits by exporter type; the rest converted to taka
Taka account receiving export proceeds	Company's own name, AD bank in Bangladesh	SWIFT wire, converted on arrival	Proceeds within four months; encashable portion converted by the next business day
Payment platform (OPGSP) for services	Platform account, settled through a Bangladeshi AD bank	Card, platform transfer or local account details abroad	Up to $10,000 per transaction for service export receipts
USD account with a foreign provider	Provider's or company's name, held abroad	ACH, Fedwire or SWIFT	Provider eligibility; keeping export proceeds abroad outside authorized accounts breaches the FER Act
US company with a US account	A new US company's name	ACH and Fedwire as a US business	Separate company and tax filings; the Bangladeshi company's exports remain under Bangladesh Bank rules

Sources: Bangladesh Bank FEPD-1 Circular No. 26 of 30 July 2026; Wise; Airwallex. As published on 29 October 2026.

An OPGSP is an online payment gateway service provider, an internationally recognized payment platform that Bangladesh Bank allows ADs to work with for small service export receipts. SWIFT is the international network banks use to send cross-border payments. ACH is the low-cost US domestic bank transfer system, and Fedwire is the Federal Reserve's same-day system for large US dollar payments.

Bangladesh Bank rules for export proceeds in 2026

On 30 July 2026 Bangladesh Bank issued FEPD-1 Circular No. 26, a consolidated circular on foreign exchange regulations for export trade. It was issued under Section 20(3) of the FER Act and repeals earlier export instructions. The rules below come from that circular.

Rule	What the circular says	Reference
Repatriation period	Export proceeds must be repatriated within four months; failure without authorization exposes the exporter to action under the FER Act	Part-A, 8(1)
Raw jute and jute goods	Up to 360 days against an irrevocable confirmed letter of credit or on open account	Part-A, 8(2)
Shipping documents	Documents and the EXP form must reach the AD within 14 days of shipment	Part-A, 19(4)
Conversion	The encashable portion is converted to taka by the following business day, unless exempted	Part-A, 19(3)
Advance receipts	No interest; export must be completed within one year of the advance	Part-A, 22
Agent commission	Up to 5% of the goods' value may be deducted from proceeds without separate approval	Part-A, 20(1)
Service remittances	Encashed on receipt of online Form C; up to $20,000 may be credited without Form C	Part-H, 2(c)
Proceeds kept abroad	Retaining export proceeds abroad, other than in authorized accounts, contravenes Section 5(1)(e)(i) of the FER Act	Part-H, 5
Platform receipts	Service export receipts through OPGSPs are limited to $10,000 per transaction	Part-I, 3(b)

Source: Bangladesh Bank, FEPD-1 Circular No. 26 of 30 July 2026, consolidated circular on foreign exchange regulations for export trade transactions. As published on 29 October 2026.

The EXP form is the export declaration form that links a shipment to the AD bank that must receive its proceeds. Form C is the form used to declare the purpose of an inward service remittance. Small e-commerce exports have a lighter route: under FE Circular No. 43 of 5 November 2025, mobile financial service providers and payment service providers licensed by Bangladesh Bank may handle export proceeds for goods up to $1,000 without an EXP form, subject to conditions.

The practical result for a company is that dollars from exports must come home, through an AD, within the deadline. Ask your bank which documents it needs to match each receipt to its EXP form or service contract before the payment arrives.

ERQ accounts: how much you can keep in dollars

The circular allows exporters to keep proceeds in an ERQ account up to a prescribed limit. Bangladesh Bank revised the limits in July 2026.

Exporter type	Share that may be kept in an ERQ account	Source
ICT freelancers	Up to 50% of export earnings	Bangladesh Bank circular of 22 July 2026, as reported by The Financial Express
Other service exporters	Up to 30%	Same report
Merchandise exporters of goods with high import content	Up to 15% of the repatriated FOB value, raised from 7.5%	FEPD-1 Circular No. 23 of 22 July 2026, amending paragraph 76(1) of FE Circular No. 31 of 31 July 2025, as reported by The Daily Ittefaq
Receipts through OPGSPs	Credited to the ERQ account up to the permissible limit; the remainder converted to taka	FEPD-1 Circular No. 26, Part-I, 3(e)

Sources: The Financial Express and The Daily Ittefaq, 22 July 2026; Bangladesh Bank FEPD-1 Circular No. 26 of 30 July 2026. As published on 29 October 2026. Confirm your category and limit with your AD.

FOB, free on board, is the value of goods loaded at the port of shipment, excluding freight and insurance to the destination. The same July 2026 changes allowed freelancers to support receipts with electronic evidence, such as platform statements and emails, instead of conventional export documents, as reported by The Financial Express.

Balances in ERQ accounts are used for payments abroad within Bangladesh Bank's rules, and refunds of advance export receipts are drawn from the ERQ account first under Part-A, 22(e) of the July 2026 circular. Ask your AD for the current list of permitted uses before planning a payment.

Foreign USD account providers and Bangladesh

Many Bangladeshi businesses look at an online USD account from a provider outside Bangladesh. Eligibility is set by each provider, and Bangladesh Bank's rule on proceeds kept abroad applies whichever provider is used.

Provider	What its own pages state for Bangladesh
Wise	Bangladesh is on the list of addresses that cannot get USD account details; a US business with an address in Bangladesh also cannot get them
Airwallex	Bangladesh is not on its list of supported registration locations; unlisted locations cannot be processed
WorldFirst	Its South Asia pages address businesses in Pakistan and Bangladesh and describe local receiving account details in more than 15 currencies, including USD
Mercury	Accepts only companies formed and registered in the United States or a US territory

Sources: the providers' own pages, linked below. As published on 29 October 2026.

Payment platforms publish their own fees. Payoneer's fees page, last updated 1 January 2026, lists receiving into a local currency receiving account as free, 1% for a payer's US ACH bank debit, up to 3.99% plus $0.49 for a card payment, and 1.2% to 4% for withdrawals with conversion. Its pricing page lists an annual account fee of $29.95 that applies only to accounts receiving less than $6,000 in 12 consecutive months.

Before using any provider, check three points: whether the details are in your company's own name or a pooled account; whether the provider settles to Bangladesh through an AD bank, so the receipt counts as repatriated; and whether your receipts fit the per-transaction limit for platform receipts. Provider pages used: Wise on USD account details, Airwallex eligible countries, WorldFirst South Asia and Mercury eligibility.

The US company route

Some Bangladeshi founders form a US company, usually a limited liability company (LLC) or a Delaware corporation, and open a US account in its name. Mercury requires the company to be formed and registered in the United States or a US territory, with existing or planned US operations, and publishes a list of countries where it cannot support founders. Wise states that a US business with an address in Bangladesh cannot get USD account details, so the US company does not settle eligibility with every provider.

The US company needs an Employer Identification Number (EIN), the US federal tax number for a business. The IRS instructions for Form SS-4 state that international applicants may call 267-941-1099, from 6:00 a.m. to 11:00 p.m. Eastern Time, Monday to Friday, and may fax Form SS-4 to 304-707-9471.

This route needs particular care in Bangladesh. The US company is a separate legal entity, but exports made by the Bangladeshi company remain under Bangladesh Bank's rules, including the four-month repatriation period and the rule on proceeds kept abroad. Take Bangladeshi legal and tax advice before setting up a structure in which a foreign entity invoices for work or goods produced in Bangladesh.

Documents you need

AD banks and foreign providers ask for a similar company file. The table is a typical checklist; each bank sets its own.

Document	AD bank in Bangladesh	Foreign provider (typical)
Certificate of incorporation from the Registrar of Joint Stock Companies and Firms (RJSC)	Yes	Yes
Memorandum and articles of association	Yes	Usually
Trade license	Yes	Sometimes
Taxpayer Identification Number (TIN) certificate	Yes	Often
Export Registration Certificate (ERC) or Import Registration Certificate (IRC)	For exporters and importers	Rarely
Board resolution and identity documents of directors	Yes, national ID or passport	Yes, passport
Details of owners of 25% or more	Under the bank's KYC policy	Yes
Export documents for each shipment	EXP form and shipping documents within 14 days	Invoices or contracts for large payments

Typical requirements compiled by the Helm Editorial Team; export documents from Bangladesh Bank FEPD-1 Circular No. 26 of 30 July 2026. As published on 29 October 2026.

The trade license is the local business permit issued by the city corporation or municipality. The ERC and IRC are registrations issued by the Office of the Chief Controller of Imports and Exports that allow a company to export or import. KYC, short for know your customer, is the identity and ownership check every bank and provider runs. Keep the company name identical across all documents.

Crypto and stablecoins in Bangladesh

Stablecoins are digital tokens designed to hold a steady value against a currency such as the US dollar; USDC and USDT are the most widely used. Bangladesh Bank's position is restrictive.

The September 2022 notice. As reported by The Financial Express, Bangladesh Bank stated that the FER Act's definition of currency does not recognize virtual currencies, that it does not permit transactions to obtain virtual assets, and that it does not allow facilitation of businesses exchanging, transferring or trading them.
Export proceeds. In the same notice Bangladesh Bank warned businesses against accepting export proceeds in cryptocurrency and keeping them abroad, which it said violates the law.
No change reported. A May 2026 column in The Financial Express on crypto payments in trade cites FE Circular No. 24 of 15 September 2022 as the governing position and reports no change.

Question	What the sources say
Are virtual currencies recognized as currency?	No, not under the FER Act's definition of currency
Can a business buy or trade crypto?	Bangladesh Bank does not permit transactions to obtain virtual assets
Can export proceeds be received in USDT or USDC?	Bangladesh Bank has warned against accepting export proceeds in cryptocurrency and keeping them abroad
Is there a licensing regime?	None reported as of May 2026

Sources: The Financial Express, 16 September 2022 and 18 May 2026. As published on 29 October 2026.

A Bangladeshi company should not accept USDC or USDT for exports, and should take legal advice before any transaction involving virtual assets.

Where Helm fits, and where it does not

Helm is a financial technology company, not a bank. Accounts are held with regulated partner institutions. Helm does not currently provide USD account details to companies based in Bangladesh, and Helm's USDC and USDT features are not a route for Bangladeshi companies while Bangladesh Bank does not permit transactions to obtain virtual assets. Bangladeshi companies should use their AD bank and the channels Bangladesh Bank allows. Helm's general rules are on the eligibility page, and current questions can go to Helm's contact page.

Freelancers and small service firms

Freelancers have the most channels. They may receive through OPGSPs, up to $10,000 per transaction, and through mobile financial service providers and payment service providers working with ADs. They may keep up to 50% of earnings in an ERQ account, and inward service remittances up to $20,000 may be credited without Form C. Wise lists Bangladesh among addresses that cannot get USD account details on personal profiles as well as business ones. For how buyers abroad send dollars and what details to give them, see our guide on receiving USD from overseas buyers, and compare the rules in neighboring markets in our guides to USD accounts in India and USD accounts in Pakistan.

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Questions

Can a Bangladeshi company open a USD account?

A Bangladeshi exporter can hold US dollars in an Export Retention Quota (ERQ) account at an authorized dealer bank in Bangladesh, up to the share of export earnings Bangladesh Bank allows it to retain. The rest of its export proceeds is converted to taka.

What is an ERQ account in Bangladesh?

An ERQ account is an Export Retention Quota account, a foreign currency account at an authorized dealer bank where an exporter keeps the permitted share of its earnings. As reported in July 2026, the limit is up to 50% for ICT freelancers, 30% for other service exporters and 15% for merchandise exporters with high import content.

How long do Bangladeshi exporters have to bring proceeds home?

Bangladesh Bank's consolidated export circular of 30 July 2026 sets the repatriation period at four months. Raw jute and jute goods may have up to 360 days against an irrevocable confirmed letter of credit or on open account.

Can a Bangladeshi business keep export proceeds in a foreign account?

Bangladesh Bank's July 2026 circular states that retaining export proceeds abroad, other than in authorized accounts, contravenes Section 5(1)(e)(i) of the Foreign Exchange Regulation Act, 1947. Proceeds must be repatriated through an authorized dealer within four months.

Can a Bangladeshi business open a Wise USD account?

Wise lists Bangladesh among addresses that cannot get USD account details, for personal and business profiles. It also states that a US business with an address in Bangladesh cannot get USD account details.

How much can freelancers in Bangladesh receive without Form C?

Bangladesh Bank's July 2026 circular allows inward service remittances up to $20,000 or equivalent to be credited without Form C. Receipts through online payment gateway service providers are limited to $10,000 per transaction.

Is crypto legal in Bangladesh?

Bangladesh Bank stated in September 2022 that virtual currencies are not recognized as currency under the Foreign Exchange Regulation Act and that it does not permit transactions to obtain virtual assets. It also warned businesses against accepting export proceeds in cryptocurrency.

Does Helm offer USD accounts to Bangladeshi companies?

Helm does not currently provide USD account details to companies based in Bangladesh. Bangladeshi companies should receive dollars through an authorized dealer bank in Bangladesh and the channels Bangladesh Bank permits.

How fast must Bangladeshi exporters send shipping documents to the bank?

Under Bangladesh Bank's July 2026 consolidated circular, shipping documents and the EXP form must reach the authorized dealer within 14 days of shipment. The bank uses them to monitor that proceeds arrive within the four-month period.

References

HelmHelm is a business account for companies that trade internationally: USD, EUR and GBP accounts, international payments, collections and currency exchange, with a named account manager. Questions: [email protected].

This guide is general information for businesses, not financial, legal or tax advice. Rules, fees and timings were checked against the sources listed on the review date and may change.

USD business account in Bangladesh