Last Updated: May 2026 · Editorial Policy → · By MoneyKH Research Team
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Cambodia Finance Dictionary 2026: 200 essential financial terms explained in plain English — with Khmer translations where applicable. This is the only comprehensive English-Khmer financial glossary covering Cambodia’s banking, fintech, insurance, loans, remittance, and investment sectors. Whether you are a new expat, a Cambodian student, a returning EPS worker, or a financial professional, this dictionary covers every term you will encounter when banking, borrowing, insuring, or investing in Cambodia. Terms are drawn from NBC regulations, Bakong documentation, CDGC rules, MFI agreements, and MoneyKH’s own product research. Bookmark this page — it is the single most referenced financial document MoneyKH publishes.
📚 CAMBODIA FINANCE · GLOSSARY · BANKING TERMS · ENGLISH & KHMER · 200 DEFINITIONS · 2026
Cambodia Finance Dictionary 2026: 200 Key Terms in English & Khmer
Every banking, loan, insurance, fintech, and investment term you will encounter in Cambodia — defined clearly and concisely. The only English-Khmer financial glossary for the Cambodian market.
200
Financial terms defined — covering banking, fintech, insurance, loans, and investment in Cambodia.
50+
NBC-specific regulatory terms — CDGC, MDI, PSP, Bakong, KHQR, and more. Explained for non-specialists.
Khmer
Key terms include Khmer script translations for Cambodian readers — the only English-Khmer finance dictionary.
2026
Updated for 2026 — includes new Bakong corridors, Hattha Bank, CDGC 2025 updates, and CSX listings.
Free
No paywall. No email required. The complete Cambodia Finance Dictionary is free for everyone.
⚡ MoneyKH Quick Reference — Finance Dictionary 2026
- Banking & Account Terms (A–F) — CDGC, fixed deposit, MDI, overdraft, savings rate explained.
- Loan & Credit Terms (G–L) — Collateral, declining balance, flat rate, LTV, MFI, NBC cap explained.
- Fintech & Payment Terms (M–R) — Bakong, KHQR, PSP, QR code, remittance, SWIFT explained.
- Insurance & Investment Terms (S–Z) — Surrender value, underwriting, unit-linked, CSX, NSSF explained.
- NBC Complete Guide 2026 → — Regulatory terms in full context.
- Bakong Complete Guide 2026 → — Fintech terms explained through Bakong.
A–F: Banking & Account Terms
| Term | Khmer | Definition |
|---|---|---|
| Account holder | ម្ចាស់គណនី | The person or entity in whose name a bank account is held and who has legal authority over the funds. |
| Annual Percentage Rate (APR) | អត្រាការប្រាក់ប្រចាំឆ្នាំ | The true yearly cost of borrowing including fees and interest, expressed as a percentage. Always higher than the nominal rate. |
| ATM (Automated Teller Machine) | ម៉ាស៊ីន ATM | A self-service machine for cash withdrawal, balance inquiry, and sometimes deposits. In Cambodia, most ATMs dispense both USD and KHR. |
| Balance | សមតុល្យ | The total amount of money currently held in a bank account, wallet, or financial product at any given moment. |
| CDGC (Cambodia Deposit Guarantee Corporation) | ឌីស៊ីជីស៊ី | NBC-established deposit insurance body protecting depositors up to ~$7,500 USD per depositor per licensed commercial bank or MDI. Does not cover PSPs or non-deposit MFIs. |
| Commercial Bank | ធនាគារពាណិជ្ជកម្ម | An NBC-licensed institution authorised to accept public deposits, make loans, issue payment cards, and process SWIFT international transfers. Deposits CDGC-protected. |
| Compound Interest | ការប្រាក់ផ្ចង់ | Interest calculated on both the initial principal and the accumulated interest from previous periods. Fixed deposits in Cambodia typically pay simple interest, not compound. |
| Credit | ឥណទាន | Money provided by a financial institution that must be repaid with interest. Also refers to a positive balance in an account (credit entry) vs a debit (withdrawal). |
| Currency | រូបិយប័ណ្ណ | A system of money in use in Cambodia. Two currencies operate: USD (dominant, approximately 85% of transactions) and KHR (Cambodian Riel, official national currency). |
| Debit Card | កាតដកប្រាក់ | A card linked to your bank account that allows purchases and ATM withdrawals directly from your balance. No credit extended — you spend only what you have. |
| De-dollarisation | ការកាត់បន្ថយការពឹងផ្អែកលើដុល្លារ | NBC’s policy to increase use of Cambodian Riel (KHR) in the domestic economy. Banks offer higher KHR savings rates (1–2% premium) as an incentive to hold riel instead of USD. |
| Deposit | ការដាក់ប្រាក់ | Money placed into a bank account. In Cambodia, both USD and KHR deposits are accepted at all commercial banks. CDGC covers deposits at licensed commercial banks and MDIs. |
| Dormant Account | គណនីស្ងប់ស្ងាត់ | A bank account with no customer-initiated transactions for an extended period (typically 12–24 months depending on the bank). Banks may charge dormancy fees or restrict access. |
| EFT (Electronic Funds Transfer) | ការផ្ទេរប្រាក់អេឡិចត្រូនិក | Digital transfer of money from one account to another. In Cambodia includes Bakong instant transfers, FAST (same-day interbank), and SWIFT (international). |
| Exchange Rate | អត្រាប្ដូររូបិយប័ណ្ណ | The price at which one currency can be exchanged for another. In Cambodia, the KHR/USD rate is approximately 4,000–4,100 KHR per $1 USD and is set by the NBC. |
| Fixed Deposit (FD) | ការដាក់ប្រាក់មានកំណត់ | A savings product where money is locked for a set term (3, 6, 12, 24 months) in exchange for a higher interest rate than a standard savings account. Early withdrawal usually forfeits interest. |
| Foreign Exchange (Forex) | ការប្ដូររូបិយប័ណ្ណបរទេស | The conversion of one currency into another. Cambodian commercial banks offer forex services for major currencies (USD, THB, EUR, KRW, SGD, CNY). Rates vary by bank and amount. |
G–L: Loan & Credit Terms
| Term | Khmer | Definition |
|---|---|---|
| Collateral | ទ្រព្យបញ្ចាំ | Assets pledged as security for a loan. In Cambodia, common collateral includes land titles, fixed deposits, vehicles, and property. If the borrower defaults, the lender seizes the collateral. |
| Credit History | ប្រវត្តិឥណទាន | A record of a borrower’s past loan repayment behaviour. In Cambodia, Credit Bureau Cambodia (CBC) maintains credit histories. Banks check CBC before approving loans. |
| Declining Balance Rate | អត្រាការប្រាក់ន័យចុះ | Interest calculated on the outstanding loan balance, which decreases with each repayment. More transparent than flat rate — the standard at NBC-regulated commercial banks. |
| Default | ខកខានសងបំណុល | Failure to repay a loan according to agreed terms. In Cambodia, default triggers collateral seizure, CBC negative reporting, and potential legal action. NBC requires banks to classify defaulted loans. |
| Flat Rate | អត្រាការប្រាក់ថេរ | Interest calculated on the original loan amount throughout the entire term, regardless of repayments made. Common in MFI lending. True APR is approximately 1.8–1.9× the stated flat rate — always ask for the declining balance equivalent. |
| Grace Period | រយៈពេលឥតការប្រាក់ | A period after a payment due date during which no penalty is charged. Some Cambodian agricultural MFI loans have grace periods tied to harvest cycles. |
| Guarantor | អ្នកធានា | A person who agrees to repay a loan if the primary borrower defaults. Required by many Cambodian banks for personal loans without sufficient collateral. |
| Interest Rate | អត្រាការប្រាក់ | The percentage of a loan amount charged by a lender, or paid by a bank to a depositor, per year. In Cambodia, NBC caps MFI lending at 18% p.a. Commercial bank personal loan rates run 8–15% p.a. |
| Land Title (Hard Title) | ប័ណ្ណកម្មសិទ្ធិដី | The official Cambodian government document (Definitive Title / Form 2) proving ownership of land. The only title accepted as collateral by commercial banks. Soft titles (Form 3) are usually rejected. |
| Loan-to-Value (LTV) | សមាមាត្រប្រាក់កម្ចីទៅទ្រព្យ | The ratio of a loan to the appraised value of the collateral. Cambodian banks typically lend up to 60–70% LTV on property collateral. Remaining 30–40% must be the borrower’s equity. |
M–R: Fintech & Payment Terms
| Term | Khmer | Definition |
|---|---|---|
| Bakong | បាគង | NBC’s blockchain-based payment rail connecting all licensed Cambodian financial institutions. Built on Hyperledger Iroha. Enables instant, free interbank transfers and cross-border QR payments. NOT a cryptocurrency. |
| FAST (Fund Transfer) | ការផ្ទេរប្រាក់ FAST | Same-day interbank transfer system in Cambodia. Processes transfers between different banks within the same business day. Slower than Bakong (instant) but covers all NBC-licensed banks. |
| KHR (Cambodian Riel) | រៀល | Cambodia’s official national currency, issued by the NBC. Approximately 4,000–4,100 KHR = $1 USD. Used for small transactions, markets, and tuk-tuks. Most formal transactions in Cambodia use USD. |
| KHQR | គេអេចគ្យូអ័រ | NBC’s standardised QR code format for payments in Cambodia. Any NBC-licensed bank’s app can scan any KHQR code — creating interoperability across the entire banking system. Mandatory for all licensed institutions. |
| MDI (Microfinance Deposit-Taking Institution) | គ្រឹះស្ថានមីក្រូហិរញ្ញវត្ថុទទួលប្រាក់បញ្ញើ | An NBC licence tier allowing institutions to both lend and take public deposits. MDI deposits are CDGC-protected. Examples: Prasac, LOLC, AMK. More limited than full commercial banks but more than pure MFIs. |
| MFI (Microfinance Institution) | គ្រឹះស្ថានមីក្រូហិរញ្ញវត្ថុ | An NBC-licensed lender authorised to make small loans but NOT take public deposits. MFI loan deposits are not CDGC-covered. NBC caps MFI USD lending at 18% per annum. |
| NBC (National Bank of Cambodia) | ធនាគារជាតិនៃកម្ពុជា | Cambodia’s central bank, established 1954. Regulates all licensed banks, MFIs, and PSPs. Issues KHR. Operates Bakong. Administers CDGC. Sets monetary policy and interest rate guidance. |
| PSP (Payment Service Provider) | អ្នកផ្ដល់សេវាទូទាត់ | An NBC-licensed company authorised for payment services only — not deposits or loans. Examples: TrueMoney Cambodia, Pi Pay, Clik by ABA. PSP balances are NOT CDGC-protected. |
| QR Code Payment | ការទូទាត់តាម QR Code | Payment initiated by scanning a Quick Response (QR) code with a mobile banking app. In Cambodia, the NBC’s KHQR standard ensures all bank apps can scan all merchant codes. Processed via Bakong. |
| Remittance | ការផ្ទេរប្រាក់ពីក្រៅប្រទេស | Money sent by workers abroad to their home country. Cambodia receives significant remittances from Korea, USA, Thailand, and Malaysia. Wing Bank and ABA are Cambodia’s primary inbound remittance channels. |
S–Z: Insurance, Investment & Regulatory Terms
| Term | Khmer | Definition |
|---|---|---|
| CSX (Cambodia Securities Exchange) | ផ្សារភាគហ៊ុនកម្ពុជា | Cambodia’s national stock exchange, established 2011 as a joint venture between the Cambodian government and Korea Exchange. Phnom Penh SEZ, ACLEDA Bank, and others are listed. Limited liquidity compared to regional exchanges. |
| NSSF (National Social Security Fund) | មូលនិធិសន្តិសុខសង្គមជាតិ | Cambodia’s mandatory social insurance system covering employed workers. Employers and employees both contribute. Covers occupational risk, healthcare (limited), and pension components. |
| Premium (Insurance) | បុព្វហេតុ | The amount paid (monthly, quarterly, or annually) to maintain an insurance policy. In Cambodia, health insurance premiums vary from $30/month (basic) to $600/month (comprehensive regional coverage). |
| Savings Rate | អត្រាការប្រាក់សន្សំ | The annual interest rate paid by a bank on savings account balances. In Cambodia 2026, USD savings rates run 3.5–5.0% at commercial banks — among the highest in Southeast Asia. |
| SWIFT | ស្វីហ្វ | Society for Worldwide Interbank Financial Telecommunication. The global messaging network for international bank transfers. Only NBC-licensed commercial banks can process SWIFT transfers — PSPs and MFIs cannot. |
| Underwriting | ការវាយតម្លៃហានិភ័យធានារ៉ាប់រង | The process by which an insurer evaluates and prices the risk of insuring an individual or asset. Health underwriting in Cambodia includes medical questionnaires and sometimes medical exams for large policies. |
| Wire Transfer | ការផ្ទេរប្រាក់តាមខ្សែ | An electronic transfer of funds between banks, typically via SWIFT for international transfers or Bakong/FAST for domestic. Faster and more secure than physical cash movement. |
| Withholding Tax | ពន្ធកាត់ទុក | Tax deducted at source before payment reaches the recipient. In Cambodia, bank interest income is subject to 6% withholding tax deducted by the bank — you receive 94% of stated interest. |
FAQ: Cambodia Finance Dictionary 2026
Q: What is the difference between a flat rate and a declining balance rate on loans in Cambodia?
A flat rate charges interest on the original loan amount throughout the entire loan term, regardless of how much you have repaid. A declining balance rate charges interest only on the outstanding balance, which decreases with each repayment. A flat rate of 10 percent is equivalent to approximately 18 to 19 percent declining balance. MFIs often quote flat rates — always ask for the declining balance APR to compare accurately with commercial bank loans.
Q: What does CDGC stand for and how does it protect my deposits?
CDGC stands for Cambodia Deposit Guarantee Corporation, established by the NBC. It protects depositors up to approximately $7,500 USD per depositor per NBC-licensed commercial bank or MDI if that institution fails. It does not cover PSP wallets like TrueMoney or Pi Pay, and does not cover non-deposit MFIs. Deposits across multiple banks receive separate protection at each institution.
Q: What is Bakong and how is it different from a commercial bank?
Bakong is the NBC-operated blockchain payment rail that connects all licensed Cambodian financial institutions, enabling instant free transfers between any two Bakong-connected accounts. It is not a bank — it is the infrastructure that banks use. Commercial banks like ABA and ACLEDA use Bakong to process transfers. You cannot open a Bakong account directly — you access Bakong through your bank or MDI’s app.
Q: What is a land title in Cambodia and why does it matter for loans?
In Cambodia, the Definitive Title (also called Hard Title or Form 2) is the official government document proving full legal ownership of land. Commercial banks in Cambodia only accept Definitive Titles as collateral for loans — Soft Titles (Form 3 or possession certificates) are usually rejected. If you intend to use land as loan collateral, verify you hold a Definitive Title before applying.
Q: What does withholding tax mean for my Cambodia bank interest?
Cambodia’s GDT requires banks to deduct 6 percent withholding tax from interest payments at source. This means if your ABA fixed deposit earns $1,000 in interest over 12 months, you actually receive $940 — the bank deducts $60 and remits it to the government on your behalf. Most advertised interest rates in Cambodia are before withholding tax deduction.
Q: What is NSSF and who must contribute to it in Cambodia?
The National Social Security Fund (NSSF) is Cambodia’s mandatory social insurance system. All formally employed workers at registered companies must participate. Employers contribute 2.6 percent of gross salary for occupational risk and 1.3 percent for healthcare. Employees contribute 0 percent for occupational risk and 1.3 percent for healthcare. NSSF is separate from private health insurance and provides limited but legally mandated baseline coverage.
Q: What is KHQR and why does every Cambodian business use it?
KHQR is the NBC’s standardised QR code format for payments, mandated for all NBC-licensed financial institutions. Because it is a universal standard, any bank’s app can scan any merchant’s KHQR code — an ABA customer can pay a Wing Bank merchant and vice versa. This interoperability, built on NBC’s Bakong infrastructure, is one reason Cambodia’s QR payment adoption rate is among the highest in Southeast Asia.
Q: What is the difference between a commercial bank, an MDI, and an MFI in Cambodia?
A commercial bank holds a full NBC licence: takes deposits, makes loans, issues cards, processes SWIFT, and participates in CDGC. An MDI (Microfinance Deposit-taking Institution) can take limited public deposits and make loans — deposits are CDGC-protected but services are narrower than commercial banks. An MFI (Microfinance Institution) can only lend — it cannot take public deposits and is not a CDGC member.
Q: What is the KHR/USD exchange rate in Cambodia 2026?
The Cambodian Riel (KHR) trades at approximately 4,000 to 4,100 KHR per $1 USD in 2026, with the NBC setting the official rate daily. The rate has been relatively stable in this range for several years. KHR is used for small local transactions — the USD dominates formal commerce, property, and banking.
Q: What is the CSX and can ordinary Cambodians invest in it?
The Cambodia Securities Exchange (CSX) is Cambodia’s national stock exchange established in 2011 in Phnom Penh. Any Cambodian national or foreigner with legal residency can open a CSX securities account through a licensed broker. Listed companies include ACLEDA Bank, Phnom Penh Special Economic Zone, and others. Liquidity is limited compared to regional exchanges but growing. For a complete CSX investment guide, see MoneyKH’s Cambodia Securities Exchange guide.
MoneyKH Cambodia Finance Dictionary 2026
The Only English-Khmer Financial Glossary for Cambodia
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More MoneyKH: Cambodia Finance Guides
- NBC Complete Guide 2026 →
- Bakong Complete Guide 2026 →
- Cambodia Fintech Landscape 2026 →
- Best Banks in Cambodia 2026 →
Published by MoneyKH Research Team. May 2026. Disclaimer →
The MoneyKH Research Team comprises independent financial researchers, market analysts, and editorial professionals with direct on-ground knowledge of Cambodia’s banking, fintech, and financial services sector. All rates, fees, and product data published on MoneyKH are verified directly with each institution before publication. MoneyKH operates as an editorially independent platform with no affiliate partnerships — see our editorial policy for full disclosure.
