Persistently high portfolio growth, increasing average loan sizes and stagnating client numbers for the last decade have raised concerns of overheating in the Cambodian microfinance market, and whether there is an over-indebtedness crisis around the corner.
Data from the Credit Bureau of Cambodia (CBC) reveals that 50% of loans disbursed in 2017 were for refinancing, with 25% refinanced earlier than maturity and 30% refinanced at over 130% of the original loan amount.