Asia Banking
Kazakhstan taking on lots of debt to China
China-Central Asia Monitor: May 22-28, 2026
SMBC Indonesia offloads $1.13bn pensioner loan portfolio to BTN
In one of the largest domestic banking asset reallocations of the year, PT Bank SMBC Indonesia, recently rebranded to reflect its parent Sumitomo Mitsui Banking Corporation, has agreed to sell its pensioner and pre-pensioner retail loan portfolio.
Surprise 50 bps Bank Indonesia hike signals hawkish tilt toward currency defence
The move caught the broader market off guard. A majority of 29 analysts predicted a milder 25 bps increase, while the remaining 13 expected the central bank to maintain its pause.
Indonesia seeks yuan lifeline with Panda bond debut
Once the physical and digital supply of yuan enters Indonesia’s domestic banking ecosystem, the government can make it easier for real-world import-export businesses to bypass the US dollar entirely.