Malaysian banks' loan growth up 5.3% in 2016

Household and non-household loans also expanded at a similar rate of 5.3%.

Industry loan growth ended the year 2016 up 5.3% YoY, in-line with Maybank Kim Eng's full-year expectations of 5.3%. Positively, total industry loan growth is off its low of 4.2% YoY in Sep 2016, supported by a pick-up in business loans.

"Coincidentally, both household (HH) and non-HH loans expanded at a similar rate of 5.3% YoY respectively. In the case of HH loans, growth moderated from 5.4% YoY in Nov 2016 to 5.3% YoY in Dec 2016.  The slack was yet again picked up by the non-HH segment, which saw growth momentum sustained at 5.3% YoY in Dec 2016 versus 5.2% YoY in Nov 2016. Within the non-HH loans segment, business loans expanded 5.0% YoY," adds Maybank Kim Eng.