
Saudi bank credit surpasses $800bln by end of January 2025
RIYADH - The total bank credit granted to the public and private sectors in Saudi Arabia reached its highest level at SAR3,005,946 million by the end of January 2025, according to the monthly statistical bulletin issued by the Saudi Central Bank (SAMA) for January 2025.
According to Saudi Press Agency (SPA), this marks an annual growth of 15 percent and an increase of over SAR348,219 million compared to the same period in 2024, when it stood at SAR2,621,726 million.
Meanwhile, the total bank credit recorded a monthly growth of 2 percent by the end of January 2025, increasing by approximately SAR50,395 million compared to December 2024, when it stood at SAR2,955,550 million.
ES
Hashtags

Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles


Arabian Business
2 days ago
- Arabian Business
Saudi Arabia announces new credit card rules
The Saudi Central Bank (SAMA) has announced updated credit card rules. The updated regulations will be for credit card issuance and operation, targeting cost reduction for customers whilst increasing disclosure and transparency levels, and will take effect within 30 to 90 days. Under the updated framework, credit card issuers must notify customers of fee changes via SMS, with customers permitted to terminate their agreements within 14 days of receiving such notices. E-wallet top-ups via credit cards will no longer incur charges. Saudi Central Bank announces new credit card rules to lower customer fees The regulations establish new fee structures for cash withdrawals. For amounts below SR2,500, fees are capped at 3 per cent of the transaction value. For withdrawals of SAR2,500 or more, fees are limited to a maximum of SAR75. This represents a change from previous rules where cash withdrawals carried fees of SAR75 for transactions up to SAR5,000 and 3 per cent of the transaction amount for sums over SAR5,000, with a maximum fee of SAR300. International purchases will carry a 2 per cent fee of the transaction value under the new system. Customers may now deposit amounts above their credit limit and withdraw them without charges. SAMA worked with global payment companies to assess and reduce transaction costs, forming part of its mission to enhance Saudi Arabia's digital payment ecosystem and provide payment options for customers and visitors. The transparency measures require issuers to notify customers immediately of financial transactions and send account statements via SMS. Issuers must provide tools enabling customers to estimate rewards and international charges before purchases. Regarding repayment terms, customers may pay their full outstanding balance without late fees, with a mandatory grace period of at least 25 days guaranteed. The regulations unify disclosure templates for all fees, charges, and benefits within credit card agreements, promoting clarity for consumers. Additional charges under the new system include SAR25 for invalid transaction disputes and account statement requests.


Arabian Post
2 days ago
- Arabian Post
Saudi Bank Unveils New Credit‑Card Rules to Drive Transparency
Arabian Post Staff -Dubai The Saudi Central Bank has introduced sweeping reforms in the rules governing credit-card issuance and operation, aiming to reduce consumer costs, bolster transparency and align with global standards. The changes include mandatory fee notifications, reduced cash withdrawal charges, capped international transaction fees and improved disclosures. SAMA will implement these updates within 30 to 90 days. Key changes include a requirement for issuers to send SMS alerts before any fee or term modification, allowing cardholders a 14-day window to cancel agreements without penalty under the updated terms. E-wallet top-ups using credit cards will now incur no charges, a move intended to incentivise digital payments. ADVERTISEMENT Cash withdrawals of SR2,500 or less will carry a maximum fee of 3% of the transaction value; those of SR2,500 or more are capped at SR75. Previously, cash advance fees applied sharply until SR5,000 with a flat SR75, and beyond that 3%, up to SR300—making the new cap notably more favourable for larger withdrawals. International purchases will now attract a clear 2% fee of the transaction amount. A notable enhancement allows customers to deposit amounts beyond their credit limit and withdraw them at any point without additional charges, enhancing flexibility and consumer agency. Account statements must now be issued via SMS at least 25 days before payment, detailing balances, due dates and fees. Immediate notifications must follow any credit-card transaction, including details such as merchant, amount and remaining limit. Issuers are also required to provide pre‑transaction tools for estimating international charges and reward benefits. Repayment provisions maintain consumer safeguards: a 25-day minimum grace period is mandated before term costs apply. The rules prohibit levying additional fees for full balance payments and outlining clear terms for minimum payments and their implications. These reforms are underpinned by standardised disclosure templates for fees and benefits, inclusive of promotional terms—a step towards consistency across the market. Issuers must emphasise APR, term costs and expiration timelines for rewards or promotions, with SMS reminders 14 days in advance. SAMA's emphasis on mandatory due diligence and creditworthiness checks prior to card issuance is reinforced under the new framework. Criteria now include explicit customer consent via authenticated channels, formal credit record assessments and eligibility conditions aligned with industry best practices. Procedures for supplementary cards, default reporting and dispute resolution have also been clarified. For example, the minimum repayment remains 5% of the due balance, and any default procedures must include consumer advisory services before legal or collection measures begin. SMS has been designated the primary channel for disclosures, with issuers obliged to inform customers of account activity, fee changes and promotional developments. Financial institutions must adhere to SAMA‑specified notification templates to promote uniformity and clarity. According to a senior official within SAMA, the goal is to 'establish minimum requirements to promote disclosure, transparency and fair practices, as well as to limit credit risk.' Industry reaction has been generally positive. Analysts from regional banks suggest the rules will 'enhance consumer protection while supporting digital payment growth.' Critics, however, note potential implementation challenges—particularly in updating existing systems to align with stricter notification and compliance requirements. The timing reflects SAMA's broader strategy to modernise the financial sector and accelerate digital payments as part of Saudi Vision 2030. A 2020 directive mandated real‑time notifications for debit card and e-wallet transactions, laying foundational infrastructure for today's enhanced SMS regime. Collaboration with global payment networks—such as Visa, MasterCard and American Express—has helped shape caps on international and cash advance fees. Banks and fintech firms are now preparing compliance roadmaps. One major lender has initiated system-wide updates to include the new SMS templates, fee calculators and balance‑flexibility features. Industry trade bodies are urging transparency in implementation timelines to ensure consumers are well informed ahead of the rollout. As SAMA positions Saudi Arabia's credit‑card framework at par with international best practice, key areas to monitor include transparency in third‑party charges, enforcement mechanisms for non-compliant issuers, and feedback from consumer‑protection advocates.


Zawya
3 days ago
- Zawya
Saudi: New SAMA rules limit credit card fees: 3% cash withdrawal, 2% foreign purchases, free e-wallet top-ups
RIYADH — The Saudi Central Bank (SAMA) announced on Thursday updated rules for the issuance and operation of credit cards, aimed at lowering costs for customers and increasing levels of disclosure and transparency. The new regulations will take effect within 30 to 90 days. Among the key updates, credit card issuers must notify customers of any changes in fees via SMS, with customers allowed to terminate their agreement within 14 days of receiving the notice. E-wallet top-ups via credit cards are now free of charge. For cash withdrawals below SR2,500, fees are capped at 3% of the transaction amount. For withdrawals of SR2,500 or more, fees are limited to a maximum of SR75. International purchases will now carry a 2% fee of the transaction value. Customers are also permitted to deposit additional amounts above their credit limit and withdraw them at any time without incurring charges. SAMA worked with global payment companies to assess and reduce associated transaction costs, as part of its mission to enhance Saudi Arabia's digital payment ecosystem and provide a diverse array of payment options for customers and visitors. Transparency measures now require issuers to notify customers immediately of any financial transactions and to send account statements via SMS. Issuers must also provide tools for customers to estimate rewards and international charges before making a purchase. Regarding repayment, customers may pay off their full outstanding balance without incurring late fees, with a mandatory grace period of at least 25 days. The regulations also unify disclosure templates for all fees, charges, and benefits within credit card agreements, promoting greater clarity for consumers. Previously, cash withdrawals carried fees of SR75 for transactions up to SR5,000 and 3% of the transaction amount for amounts over SR5,000, with a maximum fee of SR300. The new cap of SR75 for larger transactions offers more favorable terms. International transactions are now subject to a clear 2% fee, and additional charges include SR25 for invalid transaction disputes and account statement requests. © Copyright 2022 The Saudi Gazette. All Rights Reserved. Provided by SyndiGate Media Inc. (