Asia Credit
Pakistan seeks to expand SME financing through cluster-based lending
SMEDA and the State Bank of Pakistan held a seminar bringing together financial institutions, industry representatives and other stakeholders to discuss the findings of cluster-based lending studies.
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South Korean bank lending falls as credit rules bite
Household borrowing at South Korea's major commercial banks fell for the first time in six months in September, as strict self-imposed lending restrictions by financial institutions curbed credit expansion
India’s ICICI Bank completes overseas bond issuance
According to a filing by the bank with India’s stock exchanges, the notes are senior unsecured fixed-rate securities issued through its IFSC Banking Unit, dated September 3, 2026.
South Korea expands loan limits for small banks
Regulators are trying to revive credit access for riskier borrowers while preventing default spikes at major lenders. Steering extra capacity to smaller institutions lets them offset non-performing debts from high-risk loans.
Board-CEO differences emerge as Indian private banks face leadership churn
Differences between boards and senior management over business priorities, strategy and the pace of transformation are emerging as a factor behind a number of chief executives at India’s private-sector banks choosing not to seek reappointment.
Turkey’s Halkbank has bagged $1.1bn from foreign markets since US ended Iran sanctions-busting case
Resolution of legal saga triggered “rapid increase in number of counterparties” willing to extend credit.
Citi leads South Korea IB rankings after SK hynix IPO
According to data, CGMK leads the South Korea Investment Banking Wallet League table with a 16% market share.
India’s Yes Bank withdraws planned $500mn US dollar bond issue amid higher yield demands
Investors were seeking yields 30-40 basis points higher than normal after the Reserve Bank of India brought forward the closure of its dollar deposit window.
South Korean bank targets tech growth with $720mn loan
The joint deal targets small and medium-sized enterprises and venture firms in semiconductors, physical artificial intelligence and AI data centres.
India's bank credit growth hits four-year high at 20%, deposit growth lags
Credit growth in India’s banking system accelerated to about 20% year-on-year in the June 2026 quarter, its strongest pace in more than four years, while deposit mobilisation remained weaker.
India's regional rural banks post record profit
India's regional rural banks reported record consolidated net profit of INR101.76bn in FY2025-26, up sharply from INR68.2bn in FY2024-25, as asset quality strengthened and lending expanded.
Deutsche Bank predicts Philippine rate hike to 5%
The Bangko Sentral ng Pilipinas is poised to raise interest rates by a further 25 basis points (bps) to 5% to tame rampant consumer prices, Deutsche Bank warned ahead of the monetary board meeting on August 27.
South Korea's IBK sees $60mn in overseas fraud
The fraud originated at IBK's Chinese subsidiary, which partnered with a local non-bank institution for online loans.
Bangladesh government’s bank borrowing overshoots revised target
The government had initially set a bank-borrowing target of BDT1.04 trillion for FY26 to help finance the budget deficit. However, the target was raised to BDT1.18 trillion midway through the fiscal year.
BSP urges lower costs to widen Philippine financial access
Cheaper transaction fees and easier access to services remain critical to pulling more citizens into the formal financial system, Bangko Sentral ng Pilipinas says.
Goldman Sachs says Indian banks poised for earnings rebound
Indian banks are approaching a cyclical turning point, with core pre-provision operating profit (PPoP) growth projected to accelerate to around 17.5% annually between FY26 and FY29.
South Korea bank loyalty market expanding to $2.6bn
South Korea’s retail bank loyalty market will grow to $2.6bn by 2035, Spherical Insights & Consulting reported.
India’s HDFC Bank raises $1.75bn through offshore bonds
The Mumbai-listed private sector lender, through its GIFT City branch, raised $500mn via three-year senior unsecured notes and a further $1.25bn through five-year notes.
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China to maintain loan prime rates in August
The central bank's decision to hold key borrowing costs reflects a deliberate pivot towards fiscal deployment rather than monetary easing.
Bangladesh central bank approves conversion of NCC branches to shariah
Bangladesh’s central bank granted formal approval for National Credit and Commerce Bank to convert 20 conventional branches into fully Shariah compliant outlets.