On 30 July 2025, the National Bank of Cambodia (“NBC“) issued an Instruction on Relief Measures to Alleviate the Burden of Citizens Affected by the Cambodia-Thailand Border Conflict (“Instruction“). This action was taken in response to an appeal by Samdech Moha Borvor Thipadei Hun Manet, Prime Minister of the Kingdom of Cambodia and reflects a spirit of solidarity and humanitarian concern aimed at easing the hardship faced by soldiers actively serving in the battlefield as well as citizens impacted by the ongoing border conflict.
Following consultations with the Association of Banks in Cambodia and the Cambodia Microfinance Association, NBC has issued the following instructions:
- Advising banks and financial institutions to provide relief measures to customers who are refugees by:
- Waiving all applicable fees and penalties in relation to loans from the date of the Instruction until 31 October 2025; and
- Waiving all interest payments and postponing principal repayments from the date of the Instruction until 31 October 2025 (banks and financial institutions shall also not capitalise these interest payments into the principal amount).
- Advising banks and financial institutions to:
- In relation to customers who are soldiers serving directly on the battlefield: (i) Waive all applicable fees and penalties in relation to loans for six months from the date of the Instruction until 31 January 2026; and (ii) Waive all interest payments and postpone principal repayments for a period of six months from the date of the Instruction until 31 January 2026 (banks and financial institutions shall also not capitalise these interest payments into the principal amount).
- In relation to customers who are disabled soldiers resulting from the current battlefield: in addition to the point above, write off loans of up to 10 million riels; and
- In relation to customers or co-borrowers who are fallen soldiers: in addition to the point above, write off loans of up to 80 million riels.
- Instructing banks and financial institutions to continue implementing the loan restructuring for other customers in accordance with applicable regulations; and
- Encouraging banks and financial institutions to provide additional special relief, where practical, to workers who have just returned from Thailand and soldiers who serve directly on the battlefield.
If you have any queries on the above, please feel free to contact our team members on this page, who will be happy to assist.
Contribution Note
This Legal Update is contributed by the listed Contact Partners, with the assistance of Sarun Kannitha (Senior Associate, Rajah & Tann Sok & Heng Law Office) and Nget Sok An (Associate, Rajah & Tann Sok & Heng Law Office).
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