SAMA: Banks’ Claims from the Public Sector Rise to SAR 821.3 Billion

Data from the Saudi Central Bank for February 2025 revealed that banks’ claims on the government and semi-government public sectors rose to approximately SAR 821.3 billion by the end of last February, an increase of SAR 8.3 billion, or 1%, over the previous month’s levels (January 2025), which were SAR 813 billion, marking their highest level ever. According to the January statistical bulletin, government bonds (including internationally issued government bonds and sukuk purchased by banks from the secondary market) invested by Saudi banks rose to SAR 606.5 billion by the end of February, a value of SAR 7,494 million, compared to SAR 599 billion by the end of January 2025.

On the other hand, bank credit to public institutions rose to SAR 214.8 billion by the end of February 2025, a value of SAR 828 million, compared to SAR 214 billion in January.

Banks’ liabilities to the public sector consist of government bonds and bank credit to public institutions, which in turn include loans, advances, and overdrafts.