To help alleviate the financial burdens of those affected by the Cambodia-Thailand border conflict — especially disabled soldiers and the families of the fallen — the National Bank of Cambodia (NBC) has issued a number of measures to provide relief to all affected individuals.
The NBC’s directive, titled “Measures to Alleviate the Financial Burden for People Affected by the Cambodia-Thailand Border Conflict”, was released this morning, July 30.
The NBC announced that in response to an appeal by Prime Minister Hun Manet, and in the spirit of unity and compassion, as well as to support soldiers actively engaged in defending the Kingdom and civilians impacted by the border conflict, after discussions with the Association of Banks in Cambodia (ABC) and the Cambodia Microfinance Association (CMA), it will implement the following measures.
Financial institutions are advised to offer relief to customers who are displaced persons by:
(a) Waiving all fees and penalties related to loans from now until October 31, 2025; and by
(b) Suspending interest payments and deferring principal repayments from now until October 31, 2025.
During this period, financial institutions must not capitalise interest onto the principal.
Financial institutions are also advised to:
(a) Waive all fees and penalties related to loans for a six-month period, from now until January 31, 2026, for active-duty soldiers who were engaged directly in combat; and
(b) Suspend interest payments and defer principal repayments for six months, from now until January 31, 2026, for those same soldiers.
Again, interest must not be capitalised onto the principal during this period.
According to the NBC, disabled soldiers currently on the battlefield and the families of fallen soldiers will receive additional special priority.
The NBC confirmed that beyond points 2(a) and 2(b) mentioned above:
It will cancel loans up to 10 million riel (approx. $2,500) for disabled soldiers currently on the battlefield; and
It will cancel loans up to 80 million riel (approx. $20,000) for the families of fallen soldiers or their co-borrowers.
In addition, the NBC has ordered financial institutions to continue restructuring loans for other customers according to standard regulations and has encouraged institutions to provide further special relief — within their capacity — for workers recently returned from Thailand and for soldiers directly engaged in frontline combat.
Immediately following the NBC’s directive, ACLEDA Bank announced a full debt cancellation for the families of fallen soldiers and their co-borrowers who participated in the defence of the nation’s territorial integrity.
On its official social media page, ACLEDA wrote that in response to Prime Minister Hun Manet’s call and the NBC’s directive, and in the spirit of solidarity and humanitarianism, the bank will write off the debts of fallen soldiers who served on the battlefield in defence of Cambodia’s territorial integrity and their co-borrowers.
