Manama, Bahrain, 28th November 2019 – The Central Bank of Bahrain (CBB) published its monthly statistical bulletin for October 2019 which indicated an increase in Money supply (M3) that reached BD 13,631.3 million as at the end of October 2019, compared to BD 12,389.2 million as at the same period-end last year, an increase of 10.0%. In addition, the total outstanding balance of public debt instruments which includes Development Bonds, Treasury Bills, Islamic Leasing securities and Al Salam Islamic securities stood at BD 12,045.4 million at the end of October 2019, an increase of 2.6% compared to its level of BD 11,739.0 million in October 2018.
The data also indicated an increase in the total balance sheet of the banking system from USD 191.6 billion at the end of October 2018 to USD 203.7 billion at the end of October 2019, an increase of USD 12.1 billion, or 6.3%, in the 12-month period.
The total value of outstanding loans and credit facilities provided by retail banks amounted to BD 9,794.9 million at end of October 2019 compared to BD 9,376.8 million at the end of October 2018, an increase of 4.5%. This amount includes loans and facilities provided to the business sector amounting to BD 5,194.2 million at the end of October 2019 compared to BD 5,022.8 million at the end of the same period last year, an increase of 3.4%.
The data shows that credit card and debit card transactions across Point of Sales (POS) terminals amounted to BD 206.8 million in October 2019 compared to BD 186.2 million in October 2018; marking an increase of BD 20.6 million or 11.1%.
The balance sheet of retail banks increased by BD 2.6 billion, or 8.1%, reaching a total of BD 34.8 billion at the end of October 2019 compared to BD 32.2 billion as at end of October 2018. The data also shows an increase in local non-bank deposits which amounted to BD 13.1 billion at the end of October 2019 compared to BD 11.9 billion at the end of October 2018, an increase of 10.1%.