Saudi banks’ investments in T-bonds down to SAR 653B in January

Saudi banks’ investments in treasury bonds slightly decreased by SAR 272 million month-on-month (MoM) to SAR 653 billion in January 2026, according to data from the Saudi Central Bank (SAMA).

Banks’ T-bond investments grew 9% year-on-year (YoY), or SAR 54 billion, during the same month.

Investments in government bonds represented over 72% of banks’ total claims on the government and quasi-government sectors in Saudi Arabia by the end of the month.

Total bank claims on the public sector reached SAR 907.3 billion at the end of January, compared with SAR 813 billion at the end of the same month in 2025.

These investments include both government long-term debt instruments issued by the Ministry of Finance as well as internationally issued bonds and sukuk purchased by banks from the secondary market. SAMA T-bills were excluded as per the international standards.