AKP Phnom Penh, March 21, 2026 --

The National Bank of Cambodia (NBC) has officially issued its updated regulatory framework for emergency liquidity assistance, so-called ‘Lender of Last Resort’ protocol aiming to strengthen the resilience of the country’s banking sector.

The Prakas on Emergency Liquidity Assistance for Deposit-Taking Banking and Financial Institutions, which was issued on Mar. 21, is an update to the existing Prakas, dated Mar. 17, 2015.

“The purpose of this Prakas is to establish a framework for providing emergency liquidity assistance as a sound option for deposit-taking banking and financial institutions, which will serve as a more effective mechanism to mitigate risks and maintain financial stability,” NBC said.

This Prakas allows deposit-taking banking and financial institutions that are experiencing temporary liquidity problems to request emergency liquidity as a last-resort option, with the objective of preventing systemic risks and preserving financial stability, the central bank added.

The transition from the 2015 framework to the 2026 update reflects the NBC's commitment to modernising Cambodia's financial infrastructure.

Under the framework of this new Prakas, the NBC will continue to perform its role as a supervisory authority and support financial stability by ensuring that the provision of emergency liquidity is implemented prudently, with clear conditions, and based on risk management principles for the entire banking system.

Cambodia's banking and financial institutions had reported a modest lending growth in 2025 with outstanding loans increased by 4.1 percent year-on-year to US$63 billion by the end of 2025, while customer deposits surged by 14.7 percent to US$65.7 billion, the report said.

By Chea Vannak