Manama, Bahrain, 29 October 2019 – The Central Bank of Bahrain (CBB) published its monthly statistical bulletin for September 2019 which indicated an increase in Money supply (M3) that reached BD 13,461.2 million as at the end of September 2019, compared to BD 12,414.5 million as at the same period-end last year, an increase of 8.4%. In addition, the total outstanding balance of public debt instruments which includes Development Bonds, Treasury Bills, Islamic Leasing securities and Al Salam Islamic securities was BD 12,045.4 million at the end of September 2019, an increase of 2.6% compared to its level of BD 11,739.0 million in September 2018.

The data also indicated an increase in the total balance sheet of the banking system from USD 192.7 billion at the end of September 2018 to USD 202.2 billion at the end of September 2019, an increase of USD 9.5 billion, or 4.9%, in the 12-month period.

The total value of outstanding loans and credit facilities provided by retail banks amounted to BD 9,783.7 million at end of September 2019 compared to BD 9,267.8 million at the end of September 2018, an increase of 5.6%. This amount includes loans and facilities provided to the business sector amounting to BD 5,170.4 million at the end of September 2019 compared to BD 4,943.2 million at the end of the same period last year, an increase of 4.6%.

The balance sheet of retail banks increased by BD 2.5 billion, or 7.8%, reaching a total of BD 34.7 billion at the end of September 2019 compared to BD 32.2 billion as at end of September 2018. The data also shows an increase in local non-bank deposits which amounted to BD 12.9 billion at the end of September 2019 compared to BD11.9 billion at the end of September 2018, an increase of 8.4%.

The data shows that credit card and debit card transactions across Point of Sales (POS) terminals amounted to BD 194.0 million in September 2019 compared to BD 175.7 million in September 2018; marking an increase of BD18.3 million or 10.4%.