Leadership Spotlight: Dr. Dmytro Kolechko, CEO of Wing Bank, on Navigating Cambodia’s Current Economic Climate and Challenges in the Banking Sector

Cambodia's banking and finance sector is currently navigating an economic climate characterised by rising Non-Performing Loans (NPLs) and a cautious lending environment, amidst a cooling in real estate and construction. To better understand how financial institutions are navigating these challenges, B2B Asia News spoke with Dr. Dmytro Kolechko, CEO of Wing Bank, to get his insights on the current state of the country's economy and his outlook on the future of banking and finance.

B2B Asia News: What sectors do you view as the primary engines of growth for 2026, especially considering the current cooling of the real estate and construction sectors?

Dmytro Kolechko: "As the real estate and construction sectors cool, we expect micro, small, and medium enterprises (MSMEs) to remain the primary drivers of Cambodia’s economic growth in 2026. With more than 753,000 MSMEs employing nearly 3 million people—about 60 per cent of whom are women—and contributing roughly 63 per cent of national GDP, this sector continues to play a central role in Cambodia’s diversification and competitiveness.

"At Wing Bank, we believe that supporting SMEs is essential to securing the country’s economic future. In 2025, we launched a USD 50 million Wholesale Guarantee Scheme with the Credit Guarantee Corporation of Cambodia (CGCC), becoming the first financial institution to participate in this initiative. This partnership enables us to expand SME lending while reducing risk for entrepreneurs, thereby improving access to much‑needed financing. 

"We are also actively supporting growth in agriculture and aquaculture through partnerships with the Cambodia Aquaculturist Association, LIONPRO, and the Ministry of Agriculture, Forestry and Fisheries, combining technical expertise, capacity building, and financing of up to USD 500,000 for aquaculture and USD 200,000 for climate‑smart agriculture. In December 2025, we deepened our commitment by announcing USD 500 million to support SMEs and startups in partnership with the Ministry of Women’s Affairs, the General Department of Customs and Excise, and the Ministry of Industry, Science, Technology & Innovation. 

Looking ahead to 2026, Wing Bank’s outlook remains focused on expanding SME financing, deepening strategic partnerships, and promoting inclusive, sustainable growth. Beyond providing capital, we are committed to equipping entrepreneurs with the knowledge and tools they need to thrive. By empowering business owners, we help strengthen families, uplift communities, and contribute meaningfully to Cambodia’s continued economic progress.

B2B Asia News: With Cambodia's banking sector seeing NPLs rise to 8.9 per cent in 2025, how is Wing Bank balancing growth with the necessary caution required in today’s market?

Dmytro Kolechko: "Wing Bank is taking a disciplined and socially responsible approach to growth—strengthening our risk controls while continuing to support customers and contribute to Cambodia’s economic stability. 

We have tightened credit assessments to ensure lending is backed by real cash‑flow strength and sound business fundamentals, allowing us to maintain loan quality even in a more challenging environment. At the same time, we are diversifying our portfolio toward more resilient sectors and borrower groups to reduce concentration risks and safeguard long‑term stability.

"To protect both the bank and our customers, we have enhanced our monitoring systems to detect early signs of financial stress. This enables us to work proactively with customers—offering restructuring options or advisory support where appropriate—to help them stay on track.

“Wing Bank also maintains strong capital and liquidity buffers, providing the financial resilience needed to navigate volatility while ensuring continued trust and protection for depositors. We are investing in advanced, data‑driven risk management tools to improve decision‑making, strengthen operational discipline, and support sustainable, inclusive growth.”

B2B Asia News: As a former Chief Risk Officer, how do you oversee the credit risk frameworks for Wing Bank’s loan initiatives, such as the USD 500 million SME loan initiative?

Dmytro Kolechko: "As CEO of Wing Bank, my risk‑management background helps me ensure that our lending frameworks deliver both strong business performance and meaningful social impact. For us, these two goals are not separate—they reinforce each other. When SMEs grow, communities thrive, and the bank becomes stronger as a result.

"In December 2025, we committed USD 500 million to support SMEs and startups across Cambodia, together with key government partners. This commitment is part of a broader strategy to fuel national economic progress while expanding financial inclusion. To achieve this balance, we apply a risk framework that is both disciplined and inclusive. We combine traditional financial assessments with alternative data from the Wing Bank ecosystem, enabling us to responsibly serve entrepreneurs who may lack formal credit history. This approach strengthens our portfolio while opening doors for women‑led enterprises, rural businesses, and first‑time borrowers.

"Thanks to the strong efforts of the National Bank of Cambodia (NBC), the country now has a robust Credit Bureau Cambodia (CBC), which maintains positive and negative credit histories, detailed behavioural patterns, and K‑Scores for potential clients. By providing a standardised, data‑driven assessment of creditworthiness, CBC enhances the quality of our credit decisions, reduces manual processing, and significantly shortens the turnaround time for loan applications. This enables us to deliver faster and more reliable services to customers while maintaining strong portfolio discipline.

“We also maintain strong monitoring systems with early‑warning indicators so we can step in early to support businesses when challenges arise. This protects livelihoods, reduces defaults, and sustains portfolio quality—demonstrating how social responsibility and business prudence work hand in hand. Ultimately, our goal is sustainable growth: empowering Cambodian entrepreneurs to succeed while ensuring that Wing Bank remains financially sound and future‑ready. When our customers thrive, the bank thrives—and so does the country.”

B2B Asia News: The bank has provided loan write-offs for injured soldiers during the border conflict. How does Wing Bank decide when to prioritise social stability over traditional balance sheet performance?

Dmytro Kolechko: "Wing Bank has always believed that a bank’s true purpose is measured not only by financial performance, but by the lives it touches. As ‘The Bank for Every Cambodian’, we feel a profound responsibility to stand with every Cambodian when they need us most.

"Our decision to provide loan write offs for injured soldiers reflects a simple truth: when our people suffer, we support them—not because it is profitable, but because it is right. Since last year, Wing Bank has written off a total of USD 200,000 in loans for customers affected by the border conflict. Beyond financial relief, we have also delivered extensive humanitarian assistance to communities in need. In August, essential aid reached more than 2,000 families across Preah Vihear, Oddar Meanchey, and Siem Reap. In December 2025, an additional 11 trucks of relief supplies were delivered to displaced families in Koh Kong and Pursat. Our employees also demonstrated remarkable solidarity by voluntarily contributing a portion of their three month salaries to the Foundation for Refugees Assistance.

We prioritise social stability over balance sheet impact when there is a clear humanitarian need, our values call us to act with compassion, and long-term wellbeing outweighs short term financial cost. Ultimately, these decisions reflect who we strive to be. We are a partner in Cambodia’s wellbeing. In times of hardship, we choose to step forward with humanity and support the people in need.

B2B Asia News: Following Wing Bank’s recent Global Retail Banking Innovation Award, what innovative products or services can we expect to see from the bank’s digital roadmap for 2026?

Dmytro Kolechko: "As we look toward 2026, Wing Bank is accelerating its journey to become Cambodia’s most trusted digital financial ecosystem—one that empowers individuals, entrepreneurs, and entire communities to thrive in an increasingly digital economy.

"Beyond deepening our support for SMEs and MSMEs, customers can expect a new generation of intelligent, seamlessly connected digital banking solutions. We will introduce products that leverage data, automation, and user‑centric design to deliver faster, simpler, and more personalised financial experiences—especially for young Cambodians who are shaping the future of the digital marketplace.

"Our roadmap also places strong emphasis on building a financially confident youth population. We will expand our financial literacy programs using more interactive and technology‑enabled formats, ensuring young customers not only access modern financial tools but also understand how to use them to build long‑term prosperity. 

“Our vision is to create a digital banking ecosystem where every customer—regardless of age or background—has the capabilities, confidence, and opportunities to participate fully in Cambodia’s digital economy.”

B2B Asia News: With nearly 60 commercial banks in Cambodia, what is Wing Bank’s strategy to maintain a competitive edge in 2026?

Dmytro Kolechko: "Wing Bank’s competitive strength lies in its unique hybrid model—seamlessly combining nationwide physical accessibility with a rapidly expanding digital ecosystem. With over 1,200 Wing Bank Agents supported by nearly 200 Wing Master Agents and almost 30 branches, customers can conveniently access cash services, bill payments, loan repayments, and essential financial support close to home. This extensive physical network forms the foundation of strong financial inclusion across Cambodia.

"Complementing this reach, the Wing Bank App has become a daily companion for millions, offering more than 100 financial and lifestyle services—from payments and transfers to savings and shopping. Through Bakong KHQR, users enjoy free, frictionless payments to merchants of any bank, accelerating Cambodia’s transition toward a cashless future. Wing Bank’s digital footprint even extends beyond borders, enabling Cambodians in countries such as the United States, South Korea, and Japan to open accounts and support their families back home with ease.

Together, these strengths have earned the trust of nearly 8 million account holders, who now entrust Wing Bank with about USD 3 billion in deposits. This confidence reflects the bank’s reliability, accessibility, and customer centric approach. Whether managing finances at home or abroad, supporting loved ones, or running a business, customers experience a secure, seamless, and empowering financial journey—anytime, anywhere.

“Wing Bank now looks toward the future with even greater ambition. The bank’s vision for shaping 2026 and beyond includes a greater focus on digital personalisation through enhanced data analytics and AI–driven insights; an expansion of the KHQR merchant ecosystem and introduction of further streamlined business tools for entrepreneurs; an enhancement of the bank's SME lending programs; a commitment to greater financial inclusion through simplified digital onboarding; and a reinforcement of security and trust through next-generation cybersecurity, real-time fraud detection and more secure authentication methods.”