बैंक तथा वित्तीय संस्थाको संस्थापक शेयर किनबेच गर्ने र नामसारी गर्ने प्रक्रिया अब पहिलेजस्तो सहज रहेन। नेपाल राष्ट्र बैंकले यस विषयमा नयाँ कडाइ लागू गर्दै ठूलो परिमाणमा संस्थापक शेयर खरिद गर्न चाहने व्यक्तिहरूले आफ्नो पूरा पृष्ठभूमि खुलाउनुपर्ने व्यवस्था गरेको छ।

बैंक तथा वित्तीय संस्था नियमन विभागले एकीकृत निर्देशन, २०८२ मा संशोधन गर्दै "क", "ख" र "ग" वर्गका सबै संस्थाहरूमा लागू हुने गरी नयाँ सर्कुलर जारी गरेको हो। यस अन्तर्गत शेयर खरिद गर्ने वास्तविक धनीले आफ्नो नाम, ठेगाना र पारिवारिक विवरणदेखि लिएर विदेशमा सम्पत्ति रहे वा नरहेको सम्मको १० बुँदे स्वघोषणा अनिवार्य रूपमा बुझाउनुपर्नेछ।

शेयर किन्न चाहने व्यक्ति नेपाल वा विदेशमा कुनै आपराधिक कसूरमा मुछिएको छ वा छैन, कुनै मुद्दामामिला वा अनुसन्धानमा छ वा छैन र कर्जा कालोसूचीमा नाम परेको छ वा छैन भन्ने कुरा लुकाउन पाइनेछैन। अदालतको आदेशबमोजिम बाँकी रहेको कुनै सरकारी रकम छ भने त्यो पनि सार्वजनिक गर्नुपर्नेछ।

विदेशमा कुनै सम्पत्ति राखेका वा कुनै सम्पत्तिको वास्तविक हिताधिकारी रहेका नेपाली नागरिकले त्यसको पूरा विवरण दिनुपर्नेछ। स्वार्थको द्वन्द्व हुन सक्ने कुनै अवस्था छ भने त्यो पनि अगाडि नै खुलाउनु अनिवार्य हुनेछ।

पछिल्लो समय संस्थापक शेयरको आडमा बैंकिङ क्षेत्रमा प्रभाव विस्तार गर्ने प्रवृत्ति बढेको र वास्तविक धनी लुकाएर शेयर खरिद हुने गरेको भन्ने गुनासो बढिरहेको सन्दर्भमा राष्ट्र बैंकको यो कदमलाई वित्तीय क्षेत्रमा पारदर्शिता ल्याउने प्रयासका रूपमा हेरिँदैछ।

Acquiring promoter shares in a bank or financial institution in Nepal is no longer a straightforward transaction. Nepal Rastra Bank has tightened the rules significantly, making it mandatory for anyone purchasing a substantial number of promoter shares to lay bare their complete personal, legal, and financial background before the deal can go through.

The Bank and Financial Institution Regulation Department issued a new circular amending the Unified Directive 2082, applicable to all Class "A", "B", and "C" licensed banks and financial institutions. Under the new framework, the actual beneficial owner intending to buy promoter shares must submit a 10-point self-declaration covering everything from family background to financial conduct both at home and abroad.

The declaration requires buyers to confirm whether they have ever been involved in any criminal offense in Nepal or overseas, and if so, provide complete details along with the current status of the matter. They must also disclose whether they are currently entangled in any lawsuit, investigation, alternative dispute resolution process, or any judicial or administrative proceedings. Any outstanding government dues or amounts payable under court orders must be declared without exception.

Buyers are further required to state clearly whether their name appears on any credit blacklist in Nepal or abroad, and whether any conflict of interest exists that could arise from the share purchase. Nepali citizens must additionally disclose any assets they hold outside the country and clarify whether they are the actual beneficial owner of any such foreign property — a provision squarely aimed at unmasking hidden offshore wealth.

The move comes against a backdrop of growing concern that beneficial ownership in banks has often been deliberately concealed, with influential individuals acquiring significant stakes through indirect means while keeping their identity out of official records. By forcing full disclosure before any major promoter share transaction, Nepal Rastra Bank appears determined to bring greater transparency to a corner of the financial sector that has long operated with limited scrutiny.