The National Bank of Cambodia (NBC) and banking sector partners have urged Cambodians to exercise greater caution when borrowing money and using digital financial services, warning of risks associated with informal lending, limited financial literacy and online financial scams. The call was made during a financial literacy and consumer protection workshop in Prasat Sambour district, Kampong Thom province, as Cambodia continues to expand digital banking and mobile payment services.
Key Facts
Lead institution: National Bank of Cambodia (NBC)
Workshop location: Prasat Sambour district, Kampong Thom province
NBC representative: Lay Sokheng, Assistant Governor and Director-General of Regulation and Financial Inclusion
Main concerns: Informal lending, limited financial literacy and digital financial risks
Key recommendation: Use financial services provided by properly licensed institutions
Outstanding loans: $64.2 billion as of June 2026, up 4.6% year-on-year
Customer deposits: $64.4 billion as of June 2026, up 4.4%
Non-performing loan ratio: 9.6%, compared with 8.4% in June 2025
NBC Promotes Financial Literacy and Consumer Protection
The National Bank of Cambodia and banking sector partners organised the financial literacy and consumer protection workshop in Prasat Sambour district to improve public understanding of financial services and encourage responsible financial practices.
The workshop was presided over by Lay Sokheng, NBC Assistant Governor and Director-General of Regulation and Financial Inclusion, and Yin Bunsat, Deputy Governor of Prasat Sambour district.
Participants included representatives from local authorities, police and gendarmerie forces, the Association of Banks in Cambodia (ABC), the Cambodia Microfinance Association (CMA), the Financial Consumer Protection Center, banking and financial institutions, and local residents.
According to the ABC, the initiative aimed to improve understanding of financial services, promote transparency and responsibility among financial providers, and collect public feedback to support stronger consumer protection policies.
Informal Lending and Digital Financial Risks Under Spotlight
A panel discussion titled “Financial Literacy and Customer Protection” examined the role of formal financial institutions, responsible service delivery and the importance of improving public financial knowledge.
Dith Sochal, an ABC council member and management representative, joined representatives from the NBC and CMA in the discussion.
He highlighted risks associated with informal lending, limited financial literacy and the growing threats connected with digital financial services.
The discussion emphasised the importance of continued public education and awareness campaigns to help people understand financial products, recognise potential risks and make informed decisions.
Participants were encouraged to use financial services offered by properly licensed institutions. Choosing formal providers can help consumers access regulated services and applicable legal protections.
Cambodia’s Digital Financial Services Expand
The workshop comes as Cambodia's financial sector continues to undergo digital transformation.
The expansion of mobile payments and digital banking has widened access to financial services, allowing more people and businesses to conduct transactions through digital channels.
However, wider access also makes financial literacy and consumer awareness increasingly important.
Consumers need to understand the terms and conditions of financial products, protect their personal and financial information, and exercise caution when dealing with unfamiliar lenders or digital financial service providers.
The workshop's focus on public education reflects the need to ensure that the expansion of digital finance is accompanied by responsible financial practices and effective consumer protection.
Cambodia’s Banking Sector Records Credit Growth, but Loan Quality Remains a Concern
According to the NBC's biannual report released in July 2026, Cambodia's banking and financial sector recorded modest credit growth during the first half of the year.
As of June 2026, outstanding loans reached $64.2 billion, representing a 4.6% increase year-on-year. Customer deposits rose 4.4% to $64.4 billion over the same period.
However, the non-performing loan (NPL) ratio increased to 9.6%, compared with 8.4% in June 2025.
<text weight="semibold" size="sm">Cambodia’s banking sector indicators</text>
| Indicator | June 2026 | Year-on-year change |
|---|---|---|
| Outstanding loans | $64.2 billion | +4.6% |
| Customer deposits | $64.4 billion | +4.4% |
| Non-performing loan ratio | 9.6% | Up from 8.4% in June 2025 |
The increase in the NPL ratio indicates continued challenges in maintaining credit quality across the financial sector.
The report also listed the composition of Cambodia's banking and financial system as of mid-2026:
58 commercial banks
3 deposit-taking microfinance institutions
85 non-deposit-taking microfinance institutions
7 specialised banks
88 rural credit institutions
These figures illustrate the breadth of Cambodia's formal financial services sector and the importance of ensuring that consumers understand which providers are authorised to operate.
What Consumers Should Consider Before Borrowing or Using Digital Finance
The workshop's messages highlight several practical considerations for consumers:
Check whether a lender is licensed: Verify the provider's status before entering into a borrowing agreement.
Understand loan conditions: Review interest rates, fees, repayment schedules and penalties before accepting a loan.
Avoid unclear informal arrangements: Be cautious about borrowing from unverified individuals or organisations that do not provide transparent terms.
Protect financial information: Do not share passwords, PINs, verification codes or sensitive account information with unknown parties.
Verify digital service providers: Confirm that an application or financial service is operated by a legitimate provider before transferring money or sharing personal details.
Seek clarification: Ask the financial institution to explain any charges or contractual conditions that are unclear.
These are practical consumer precautions consistent with the workshop's emphasis on financial awareness and responsible use of formal financial services.
Angkor Times Analysis
Cambodia's expanding digital financial ecosystem is creating greater access to banking, payments and other financial services. However, access alone does not guarantee that consumers can use these services safely or make informed borrowing decisions.
The NBC and banking sector partners' warning highlights the importance of strengthening financial literacy alongside digital transformation.
Informal lending can expose borrowers to unclear repayment conditions and limited consumer protection, while digital financial services require users to understand the risks of fraud, misleading offers and misuse of personal information.
The banking sector figures also provide important context. While outstanding loans and deposits recorded year-on-year growth in June 2026, the increase in the non-performing loan ratio from 8.4% to 9.6% indicates continued pressure on credit quality.
For Cambodia, improving consumer protection will require cooperation among regulators, banks, microfinance institutions, local authorities and financial education organisations. Public awareness campaigns should be supported by accessible information, transparent pricing, responsible lending practices and effective channels for handling complaints.
The workshop in Kampong Thom is one example of this public education effort. Its longer-term value will depend on whether financial literacy initiatives reach more communities and translate into safer financial decisions.
Frequently Asked Questions
1. What has the National Bank of Cambodia warned the public about?
The NBC and banking sector partners have urged the public to be cautious about informal lending and risks associated with digital financial services.
2. Where was the financial literacy workshop held?
The workshop took place in Prasat Sambour district, Kampong Thom province.
3. Who represented the NBC at the workshop?
Lay Sokheng, NBC Assistant Governor and Director-General of Regulation and Financial Inclusion, presided over the workshop.
4. Why are consumers encouraged to use licensed financial institutions?
Using properly licensed providers can help consumers access regulated financial services and applicable legal protections while reducing potential financial risks.
5. How much did Cambodia's outstanding loans reach in June 2026?
Outstanding loans reached $64.2 billion, an increase of 4.6% compared with June 2025.
6. What was Cambodia's non-performing loan ratio in June 2026?
The NPL ratio reached 9.6%, up from 8.4% in June 2025.
7. How many commercial banks operated in Cambodia by mid-2026?
The NBC report listed 58 commercial banks as of mid-2026.
8. What is the main purpose of financial literacy programmes?
They aim to help people understand financial services, make informed financial decisions, recognise potential risks and use financial products responsibly.