Domestic Bank Loans to SMEs in Q1 Increase by NT$150.8 Billion, Hitting Second-Highest in 10 Years for the Same Period
According to Taiwan's Financial Supervisory Commission (FSC), the outstanding balance of loans from domestic banks to SMEs reached NT$11.0393 trillion by the end of March. The increase in the first quarter was NT$150.8 billion, the second-highest level for the same period in a decade.
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Central News Agency, Taipei, 14th — Statistics from the Financial Supervisory Commission (FSC) show that as of the end of March, the outstanding balance of loans from domestic banks to small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) reached NT$11.0393 trillion, a monthly increase of NT$106.9 billion, a 10-year high for the same period. The increase in loan balance for the first quarter was NT$150.8 billion, also the second-highest for the same period in 10 years. The FSC explained that the economic recovery has driven corporate funding needs, and this momentum is expected to continue for some time.
The FSC today released figures on SME lending by domestic banks at the end of March. As of the end of March 2026, the outstanding loan balance to SMEs from domestic banks was NT$11.0393 trillion, a monthly increase of NT$106.9 billion. At the end of March this year, SME loans accounted for 63.64% of total corporate loans and 67.25% of loans to private enterprises.
Chou Cheng-shan, Chief Secretary of the FSC's Banking Bureau, pointed out that the monthly increase of NT$106.9 billion in domestic bank loans to SMEs in March was the largest for the same period in 10 years. This was mainly due to the economic recovery boosting demand for corporate operating funds, along with the disbursement of syndicated loan cases in March, leading to a significant increase in the loan balance.
As for the NT$150.8 billion increase in SME loans by domestic banks in the first quarter, this was also the second-highest for the same period in 10 years, second only to NT$153.4 billion in 2021. Regarding the outlook, Chou Cheng-shan explained that loan demand from the high-tech electronics industry has also been rising recently, and this momentum is expected to continue for a while.
Comparing the end of March this year with the end of December last year, the top five banks in terms of increased SME lending were Taishin Bank (up NT$37.694 billion), Bank SinoPac (up NT$22.618 billion), Taipei Fubon Bank (up NT$15.055 billion), First Bank (up NT$15 billion), and E.Sun Bank (up NT$14.29 billion).
The top five banks in terms of overall outstanding loan balance to SMEs were all state-owned banks, in order: First Bank (NT$1.0328 trillion), Taiwan Cooperative Bank (NT$864.2 billion), Taiwan Business Bank (NT$830.2 billion), Hua Nan Bank (nearly NT$771.7 billion), and Mega Bank (NT$749 billion). (Editor: Pan Yi-ching) 1150514
The FSC today released figures on SME lending by domestic banks at the end of March. As of the end of March 2026, the outstanding loan balance to SMEs from domestic banks was NT$11.0393 trillion, a monthly increase of NT$106.9 billion. At the end of March this year, SME loans accounted for 63.64% of total corporate loans and 67.25% of loans to private enterprises.
Chou Cheng-shan, Chief Secretary of the FSC's Banking Bureau, pointed out that the monthly increase of NT$106.9 billion in domestic bank loans to SMEs in March was the largest for the same period in 10 years. This was mainly due to the economic recovery boosting demand for corporate operating funds, along with the disbursement of syndicated loan cases in March, leading to a significant increase in the loan balance.
As for the NT$150.8 billion increase in SME loans by domestic banks in the first quarter, this was also the second-highest for the same period in 10 years, second only to NT$153.4 billion in 2021. Regarding the outlook, Chou Cheng-shan explained that loan demand from the high-tech electronics industry has also been rising recently, and this momentum is expected to continue for a while.
Comparing the end of March this year with the end of December last year, the top five banks in terms of increased SME lending were Taishin Bank (up NT$37.694 billion), Bank SinoPac (up NT$22.618 billion), Taipei Fubon Bank (up NT$15.055 billion), First Bank (up NT$15 billion), and E.Sun Bank (up NT$14.29 billion).
The top five banks in terms of overall outstanding loan balance to SMEs were all state-owned banks, in order: First Bank (NT$1.0328 trillion), Taiwan Cooperative Bank (NT$864.2 billion), Taiwan Business Bank (NT$830.2 billion), Hua Nan Bank (nearly NT$771.7 billion), and Mega Bank (NT$749 billion). (Editor: Pan Yi-ching) 1150514