NBC clears over 720,000 cheques in nine months
NBC clears over 720,000 cheques in nine months
Latest central bank figures reveal that 22,663 riel-denominated checks drove a massive 15.19 trillion riel (nearly $3.8 billion) in transaction volume.
The National Bank of Cambodia (NBC) Wednesday reported that 720,753 cheques were cleared in the first nine months of 2026, comprising 22,663 riel-denominated cheques and 698,090 US-dollar-denominated cheques.
The 22,663 riel-denominated cheques had a combined value of 15.19 trillion riel, equivalent to approximately $3.8 billion, according to the latest NBC figures released on Wednesday.
US-dollar-denominated cheques continued to dominate clearing activity by volume, accounting for the majority of cheques processed during the period. Their continued use reflected the important role of the US dollar in Cambodia’s dual-currency economy.
In 2025, the clearing house processed 30,180 riel-denominated cheques worth 25.41 trillion riel, up around 17% in value from 21.65 trillion riel in 2024, despite an approximately 8% decline in the number of cheques. The average daily value of riel cheque clearings reached 104.6 billion riel that year.
Banks processed 993,449 US-dollar-denominated cheques last year, compared with more than one million in 2024, continuing the longer-term pattern of dollar-denominated cheques outnumbering those denominated in riel.
Historical data dating back to 2001 show that riel cheque volumes rose steadily before peaking at more than 100,000 instruments in 2015. Since then, the number has declined, while the total value has continued to increase.
The figures also showed fluctuations in the value of returned cheques. In February 2025, the value of returned riel-denominated cheques exceeded 2 trillion riel, far above levels recorded in most other months.
However, the data alone do not establish whether the spike reflected broader payment difficulties or a small number of high-value instruments.
The decline in cheque volumes has coincided with the expansion of electronic payment channels, including the NBC’s Bakong system, mobile banking applications and QR-code payments.
- 08:08 19/10/2026
