Lending & Credit

Vietnam calls on banks to enhance financing for Mekong Delta rice industry

Banks are asked to ensure no delays or denials in loan access for those with good business plans.

South Korea’s industrial lending up $2.27b in Q4 2024

Loans to working capital fell but rose for facilities investment.

Hong Kong’s uFinance offers student loans to college students

They can borrow up to $21,050 per semester, at an interest rate of 6%.

Philippine bank lending rises on higher credit card, motor loan demand

Lending to key industries such as real estate and retail trade also rose.

MAS bans credit use for cryptocurrency purchases

MAS aims to help consumers avoid losses from crypto investments.

OCBC’s Iris Ng champions SMEs, green financing

The banker worked on making capital loans more accessible to SMEs through embedded finance. 

Proposed capital injection to help Chinese megabanks expand loans

It will mitigate pressure from weakening internal capital generation, S&P said.

Vietnamese banks may see up to 16% credit growth over next two years

Demand will come from the manufacturing, construction, and real estate sectors.

Loans extended in Australia rose 6.5% in January

Business loans rose the fastest compared to the same month in 2024.

BoCom to prioritize risk control, moderate loan book growth: S&P

Its loan book is projected to grow slower in 2024-2026.

Thai banks’ lending dip 0.4% in Q4 2024

Central bank says there is need to monitor SMEs and households’ ability to repay debt

Singapore’s business support measures to sustain banks’ asset quality

 Wealth management income will benefit from stock exchange-related incentives.

Southeast Asian countries' credit growth diverges

Thailand has been hit with weak economic growth, whilst

Westpac cuts home loan, deposit interest rate by 0.25%

Westpac Life and Westpac eSaver rates are affected.

Westpac lets home loan clients set-up offset accounts with no extra fees

Home loan customers can create up to 10 offset accounts.