46.3% Jump in Government Deposits in Kuwaiti Banks
- KD 3.933 billion increase in loans on an annual basis
- KD 11.1 billion withdrawn via point-of-sale (POS) and KD 5.07 billion via “Cash” and KD 9.9 billion electronically
- KD 17.88 billion in bank shareholders’ rights
- 2.3% increase in bank assets to KD 104.3 billion
- KD 615.8 million rise in private sector deposits
- 1.57% decline in consumer loans
- 2.8% growth in personal facilities
- KD 108 billion in loans for shares
- KD 655 million rise in housing finance
- KD 399.3 million in real estate facilities
- 10.2% jump in oil sector loans
Data from the Central Bank of Kuwait revealed that the credit balance stood at approximately KD 65.025 billion by the end of July 2026, representing an increase of KD 1.282 billion, or 2%, compared to KD 63.742 billion recorded at the end of December 2025. On an annual basis, it rose by 6.4%, or approximately KD 3.933 billion, compared to KD 61.09 billion in July 2025.
According to the Central Bank of Kuwait’s data for July, personal facilities increased by 2.8% to reach KD 20.595 billion, an increase of KD 567.9 million compared to KD 20.02 billion at the end of last December. Consumer loans declined by 1.57%, amounting to KD 32.8 million, dropping to KD 2.044 billion compared to KD 2.077 billion in December. Meanwhile, housing loans rose by 3.8%, or KD 655 million, to KD 17.932 billion. In contrast, loans for private and model housing fell by 13.5%, or KD 26.7 million, to reach KD 171.5 million, while other facilities decreased by 5.8% to KD 447.9 million.
According to the data, loans for purchasing securities reached KD 4.919 billion, up by 2.2%, equivalent to KD 108.2 million compared to KD 4.81 billion in December. They also increased by 10.4% annually compared to levels at the end of July 2025, which stood at KD 4.455 billion.
Facilities for the oil and gas sector rose by 10.2%, or KD 281.6 million, to record KD 3.045 billion, compared to KD 2.76 billion at the end of December. Real estate loans increased by 3.66%, or KD 399.3 million, to KD 11.306 billion, against KD 10.9 billion. Construction loans grew by 6.25%, or KD 180.5 million, to KD 3.065 billion from KD 2.88 billion.
Industrial loans rose by 14.8%, equivalent to KD 418.7 million, to KD 3.245 billion compared to KD 2.827 billion. Loans granted to banks declined by 21%, by KD 1.138 billion, to record a level of KD 4.276 billion.
From the beginning of 2026 to the end of July, deposits in Kuwaiti banks increased by 5.8%, amounting to KD 3.479 billion, to reach KD 62.636 billion, compared to KD 59.15 billion in December. They rose by 10.5%, or KD 5.97 billion, on an annual basis compared to KD 56.66 billion.
The rise was driven by an increase in government deposits during the first seven months of 2026 by approximately 46.3%, or KD 1.935 billion, bringing their balance to KD 6.115 billion compared to KD 4.18 billion in December. They also increased by 32.9% on an annual basis, or KD 1.5 billion, compared to KD 4.6 billion in July 2025.
Deposits of public financial and non-financial institutions also increased by 9.4%, or KD 927 million, to reach KD 10.736 billion compared to KD 9.809 billion at the end of December. They rose by 40% on an annual basis compared to KD 7.64 billion.
Private sector deposits rose by 1.36%, or KD 615.8 million, to reach KD 45.783 billion, compared to KD 45.167 billion at the end of December. They also grew by 3%, or KD 1.36 billion, on an annual basis compared to KD 44.423 billion in July 2025.
Bank assets increased by 2.31%, equivalent to KD 2.315 billion, rising to KD 104.3 billion in July. They also increased by 5.66%, or approximately KD 5.587 billion, on an annual basis, compared to KD 98.717 billion in July 2025.
Foreign assets balances rose by 4.1% to KD 34.12 billion. In contrast, foreign liabilities to the private sector declined by 3.7% to KD 17.194 billion, resulting in a 13.5% growth in net foreign assets to KD 16.924 billion, compared to KD 14.961 billion.
Shareholders’ rights in banks increased by 0.3%, rising by KD 56.1 million to KD 17.88 billion, compared with KD 17.828 billion in December, and up 3.8% from KD 17.225 billion in July 2025.
Data showed that citizens and residents spent approximately KD 32.77 billion through 953.5 million withdrawal transactions during the first seven months. Spending via point-of-sale (POS) terminals reached KD 11.102 billion across 594.424 million transactions, while cash withdrawals via ATMs amounted to KD 5.073 billion through 37.343 million transactions. Meanwhile, online transactions totaled KD 9.97 billion across 219.775 million transactions.
Data from the Central Bank revealed that banking transactions via the instant payment service “Wamda” rose by 49.6%, increasing by KD 2.198 billion during the first seven months to KD 6.625 billion, through 101.99 million transactions, compared with KD 4.427 billion and 58.05 million transactions in the same period last year.
According to the data, Wamda transactions recorded KD 2.646 million across 40.38 million transactions in the first quarter, and reached KD 2.91 million through 45.177 million transactions in the second quarter. In contrast, July saw KD 1.068 billion processed through 16.436 million Wamda transactions.
Kuwait’s reserve assets stood at KD 10.66 billion (USD 34.6 billion) in July, down from KD 13.27 billion (USD 43.07 billion) in July 2025. This represented a 4.05% decline compared with KD 11.11 billion in June, and a 14.51% drop from the KD 12.47 billion recorded in December 2025.
