Prior to 2003 the banking sector in Afghanistan was merely operational and formal economic activity in the country was minimal. By the end of 2003 the Central Bank (Da Afghanistan Bank) resumed the licensing process for the formation & establishment of new local & foreign commercial bank branches in the country.   

   It became apparent that the enlarging banking sector needed to organize itself and create an apex body representing all banks & to serve as its mouthpiece in the dialogue with DAB & other government & private sector institution.

  Thus with the advice of DAB, the Afghanistan Banks Association was established in September 2004.

   ABA initially started with eight member banks and has been playing a constructive role in bringing the Banking community together with a common goal of improving the functioning of the Banking system in Afghanistan. At Present there are  14 licensed banks & all are members of the Association.

Member Banks:
Da Afghanistan Bank (DAB )  has licensed (14) commercial banks who are members of ABA:

1. Afghanistan International Bank
2. Azizi Bank
3. Arian Bank
4. Alfalah Bank Ltd
5. Bank-E-Millie Afghan
6. BRAC Afghanistan Bank
7. Development Bank of Afghanistan
8. Export Promotion Bank
9. Habib Bank of Pakistan
10. Kabul Bank
11. National Bank of Pakistan
12. Pashtany Bank
13. Punjab National Bank - India
14. Standard Chartered Bank
15. The First MicrofinanceBank

Goal of the Association:

To promote, advance and protect the rights, privileges and interests of banks and financial institutions functioning in Afghanistan and to take such actions within the Afghanistan legal frame work in order to benefit the member licensed commercial banks in particular and as well as customers of banking communities in general.

Objective of the Association:
The main objectives of the Association shall be:

1. To promote and protect the rights and interests of the member banks.
2. To promote and protect the interests of the clients and customers.
3. To build the capacity of the domestic banking industry, and to contribute to the improvement of the new banking systems by using media resources and launching public awareness campaign trough local media and awareness programs.
4. To improve the awareness, image and salience of banking services amongst the general public and all those engaged in business and financial transaction.
5. To promote sound and easily applicable of procedures and practice among the member banks.
6. To raise the voice of banking community.
7. To collect, classify and circulate statistics and information relating to banks and financial institutions functioning in Afghanistan.
8. To promote and develop common policy amongst members of Association in relation to the staff.
9. To award and grant scholarships, medals and prizes to brilliant students perusing education in the field of banking and finance in particular and other related discipline.
    

Every component of the Association got rights and duties according to the Articles of Association.

Fund of ABA:

Honorary members of the Association: