‎“SAMA”: Banks’ liabilities from public sector hit highest ever, at ‎SR638.2 bln

Data from the Central Bank of Saudi Arabia for the month of December 2022 revealed an increase in the liabilities of banks from the government and semi-government public sectors to about 638.2 billion riyals at the end of last December, an increase of 5.1 billion riyals from its levels in the previous month (November 2022), which were 633.1 billion riyals, to reach an all-time high.

According to the statistical bulletin for the month of December, government bonds (which include internationally issued government bonds and sukuk that banks buy from the secondary market), in which Saudi banks invested, rose to 510.3 billion riyals at the end of last December, with a value of 2739 million riyals, compared to SR 507.6 billion by the end of November 2022.

On the other hand, bank credit to public institutions increased to 127.9 billion riyals by the end of December 2022, with a value of 2323 million riyals, compared to their levels last November, which were 125.5 billion riyals.

The liabilities of banks from the public sector consist of government bonds in addition to bank credit to public institutions, which in turn includes loans, advances and short selling.