NBC Encourages Huione Pay Customers to Seek Legal Recourse Through Court System as Dispute Falls Outside Central Bank's Jurisdiction

The National Bank of Cambodia (NBC) released a statement on April 29, 2026, expressing regret over recent clashes between authorities and protestors who identify themselves as Huione Pay customers, while clarifying that addressing the claims raised by these customers falls outside the central bank's authority. 

The NBC released this statement following a protest that took place near its headquarters on April 27 that escalated into direct confrontations with authorities and two arrests. Approximately 140 protestors, including Cambodian and Chinese nationals, had gathered outside the bank's headquarters seeking intervention from the NBC to help recover their funds, which customers report have been frozen since December 2025.

In a video statement published via the NBC's official channels, H.E. Dr Chea Serey, Governor of the NBC, noted that this is not the first time a protest of this kind has taken place, with the NBC having engaged with the same group during similar demonstrations in late 2025 and early 2026. 

The Governor stressed that the NBC’s core principle is to protect customer interests and resolve issues peacefully. Following previous protests, the NBC announced a two-week period for protesters to formally register and identify themselves with supporting documents, so that the bank could review the situation and attempt to find a resolution.

She explained that around 1,300 people registered with the NBC, after which the central bank held internal meetings to discuss potential solutions. Due to the complexity of the matter, the NBC also sought consultation from other relevant authorities.

Following these meetings, Dr Chea Serey said the NBC came to the conclusion that resolving the claims raised by the registered Huione Pay customers falls outside the jurisdiction of the central bank. Consequently, on March 24, the NBC issued a letter to inform the 1,300 customers of the bank's decision. The Governor said the letter explained the bank's limited authority and advised customers to seek legal recourse through the court system.

H.E. Chea Serey emphasised that customer protection remains the NBC's top priority and cited similar cases involving Panda Bank and Prince Bank, where the NBC has worked to find solutions that will help customers of those institutions recover their deposits. She added that the central bank continues to work on resolving the remaining cases to the best of its ability.