The bank's first branches were situated in the jute-growing regions of East Pakistan, followed by offices in Karachi and Lahore.

Further international expansion included the establishment of a branch in Baghdad, Iraq, in 1957 and in Dar es Salaam, Tanganyika, in 1962.

The outbreak of hostilities between India and Pakistan in 1965 led the Indian government to seize the Calcutta branch.

During this period, NBP underwent partial privatisation and the government of Pakistan sold 23.2 percent share through initial public offering on the Karachi Stock Exchange.

In 2010, NBP opened a branch in Karaganda, Kazakhstan, and in 2011, it established a representative office in Toronto, Canada.

NBP Funds is a Non-Banking Finance Company jointly owned by National Bank of Pakistan and Fullerton Fund Management Group, Singapore, which in-turn is a wholly owned subsidiary of Temasek Holdings, Singapore.

NBP is not involved with any women's team in Pakistan, nevertheless, in October 2020, its director, Imam Baloch, publicly lauded Diya W.F.C.