[1] The bank was established in 1981 by a group of Sudanese businessmen.

In July 2006, the Lebanon's Bank Audi acquired 75% of the value of the stock and signed an agreement between National Bank of Sudan and Lebanon's Bank Audi at the Friendship Hall to enter a partnership.

After the signing of the Comprehensive Peace Agreement between the Sudanese Government and the Popular Movement for the Liberation of Sudan after 25 years of the Second Sudanese Civil War in southern Sudan, the Central Bank of Sudan Act (Amendment) Act 2006 was issued.

There is a dual Sudanese banking system, an Islamic one in the north of Sudan and the other traditional in southern Sudan.

In 2006 , the National Bank of Sudan was considered one of the strongest banks operating in Sudan, after the administration had been run by Lebanon's Banque Audi, which has about 76.56% in 2008.