Kuwait bank deposits rise to 61.26bn dinars in Q1 amid steady credit expansion
Data released by the Central Bank of Kuwait showed that total deposits in Kuwaiti banks rose by 3.55 percent during the first quarter of 2026, increasing by approximately KD 2.1 billion to reach KD 61.259 billion, compared to KD 59.157 billion at the end of December 2025.
On a monthly basis, deposits grew by 0.9 percent in March, up from KD 60.07 billion in February. Year-on-year, deposits recorded a robust increase of 11.1 percent compared to KD 47.7 billion in March 2025.
Government deposits posted notable gains, rising by 13.2 percent, or KD 551.6 million, to KD 4.731 billion by the end of the first quarter, compared to KD 4.18 billion at the end of December. On a monthly basis, they increased by 8.3 percent, equivalent to KD 361.6 million.
Deposits from public financial and non-financial institutions also saw strong growth, climbing by 11.66 percent, or KD 1.144 billion, to reach KD 10.95 billion, up from KD 9.809 billion at the end of December.
Private sector deposits edged higher by 0.9 percent, or KD 406 million, to KD 45.57 billion, compared to KD 45.16 billion previously. On an annual basis, private deposits rose by 6.76 percent, or KD 2.88 billion, from KD 42.686 billion.
Meanwhile, total credit extended by Kuwaiti banks increased by KD 1.312 billion during the first quarter, bringing the total balance of loans to residents and non-residents to KD 65.054 billion by the end of March, compared to KD 63.742 billion at the end of December 2025.
On an annual basis, lending expanded by 12.17 percent, equivalent to about KD 7.06 billion, compared to KD 57.991 billion in March 2025. However, on a monthly basis, credit growth showed a slight decline of 0.2 percent, or KD 155.5 million, compared to KD 65.21 billion in February.
Sectoral data revealed mixed trends in personal lending. Consumer loans declined by 1.46 percent, or KD 30.5 million, to KD 2.046 billion, down from KD 2.077 billion at the end of December.
In contrast, housing loans increased by 0.5 percent, or KD 91.4 million, to KD 17.368 billion, while private and model housing loans fell by 5.24 percent, or KD 10.4 million, to KD 187.8 million.
Overall, the balance of personal facilities recorded a marginal increase of 0.1 percent, rising by KD 24.1 million to KD 20.05 billion at the end of March, compared to KD 20 billion at the end of the previous year.
