Soon after independence of the Bangladesh, Sonali Bank emerged as the largest and leading Nationalized Commercial Bank by proclamation of the Banks' Nationalization Order 1972 (Presidential Order-26) merging National Bank of Pakistan, Premier Bank, and Bank of Bhwalpur. As a fully state-owned institution, the bank had been discharging its nation-building responsibilities by undertaking government entrusted different socio-economic schemes as well as money market activities of its own volition, covering all spheres of the economy.