Khmer Times News: The National Bank of Cambodia (NBC) released its annual report last Friday, revealing that the banking and financial industry maintained modest growth in 2025, in both loans and deposits, despite domestic and external economic challenges.

Outstanding loans increased by 4.1 percent year-on-year to $63 billion by the end of 2025, while customers’ deposits​​​​​​​​ rose by 14.7 percent to $65.7 billion, the report said.

Non-performing loans (NPL) ratio in the banking and financial system reached 8.9 percent, stated the report.

The current assets in Cambodia’s banking and financial system rose to $101.8 billion by 2025, up 9.5 percent from 2024.

NBC Governor Chea Serey said the banking system continued to contribute to supporting economic activity last year, despite the economy facing challenges both externally and domestically.

“Loans provided by the banks continued to grow at 4.1 percent, higher than in 2024, supported by the growing demand for capital from micro, small, and medium enterprises to expand their businesses,” she said at the NBC annual meeting on January 23.

“Deposits continued to grow as well, at a rate of 14.7 percent, and coupled with strong capital and high liquidity, indicated a banking system that remained resilient and growing in public trust,” she added.

Cambodia has 59 commercial banks, 89 microfinance institutions, four specialised banks, and 89 rural credit institutions across the country, stated the report.

The country has also registered 18.9 million e-wallet accounts as of 2025 and the Bakong transactions reached 1.3 billion, including 771 million transactions in Khmer riel and 554 million in US dollars, the report said.

For 2026, NBC stated that it will continue strengthening the banking system’s resilience through regulatory frameworks and risk-based supervision for maintaining financial stability.

Additionally, the payment system will be constantly upgraded to promote digital economic development in line with Cambodian Government’s Pentagon Strategy – Phase I.

Under the Cambodian Government’s policy to help alleviate the burden of soldiers and citizens affected by the border conflict, NBC has instructed banking and financial institutions to restructure loans for customers suffering from Thailand’s invasion.

At the same time, banking and financial institutions have restructured loans for customers, amounting to $5.3 billion, equivalent to 8.3 percent of the total loans with 253,000 accounts.