Pitambar Bhandari appointed CEO of Deposit and Credit Guarantee Fund

The government of Nepal has appointed Pitambar Bhandari as the new Chief Executive Officer (CEO) of the Deposit and Credit Guarantee Fund. According to reports from Setopati, Onlinekhabar, Bizmandu, and Baahrakhari, the decision was finalized during a cabinet meeting held on Tuesday, November 3, 2026, following a formal recommendation from the Ministry of Finance.

Following the appointment, Minister for Finance Dr. Swarnim Wagle officially handed over the appointment letter to Bhandari during a program held at the Ministry of Finance on Wednesday, November 4, 2026. During the ceremony, Minister Wagle expressed his well-wishes for Bhandari’s tenure and emphasized the importance of the institution in maintaining financial stability. The minister specifically directed the new CEO to remain committed to his responsibilities regarding the protection of public deposits and the preservation of the institution's institutional integrity.

Background and Experience

Bhandari brings extensive experience in the financial sector to his new role. As reported by Setopati, he is a former Executive Director of the Nepal Rastra Bank (NRB), where he served for approximately 25 years. His career at the central bank began in 2000 when he joined as an Assistant Director, and he eventually rose to the position of Executive Director in 2018.

Throughout his tenure at the central bank, Bhandari led various departments, including those focused on monetary management, financial institution supervision, human resource management, and institutional planning and risk management. Beyond his central bank experience, he has also served as a member of the board of directors for the Securities Board of Nepal. Notably, he has prior familiarity with his new organization, having served as a member of the board of directors for the Deposit and Credit Guarantee Fund between 2019 and 2020.

Bhandari holds a Master’s degree in Economics from Tribhuvan University and an MSc in International Economics from the University of Bradford in the United Kingdom. His professional background includes significant work in monetary policy, financial sector regulation, and economic research, with several published research articles to his credit.