AKP Phnom Penh, May 07, 2026 -- Cambodia’s small business lending sector recorded moderate growth in outstanding loan balances during the first quarter of 2026, according to a report released by Credit Bureau Cambodia on May 7.

The report showed that total outstanding small business loan balances rose by 0.9 percent quarter-on-quarter to reach US$37.44 billion by the end of March 2026. 

The total number of loan accounts declined by 1.5 percent to around 1.74 million accounts nationwide, stated the report.

Working capital loans continued to dominate the market, accounting for 51.6 percent of total loan accounts and 64.6 percent of outstanding balances, it added. 

According to the report, agriculture loans represented 28.2 percent of loan accounts, while asset finance, construction and other loans made up the remainder. 

Loans overdue by more than 90 days, measured by the 90+ DPD ratio, rose to 7.7 percent from 7.1 percent in the previous quarter. 

H.E. Dr. Chea Serey, Governor of the National Bank of Cambodia, recently said Cambodia’s banking resilience was the result of prudential regulations and supervisory measures introduced over the years, including capital adequacy requirements, liquidity standards and risk management guidelines.

She said the central bank had also strengthened on-site supervision through a more risk-based and forward-looking approach aimed at identifying risks before they materialise and enabling preventive action to safeguard financial stability.

By Sum Kosal