In today’s digital age, Artificial Intelligence (AI) is no longer just a futuristic concept—it’s becoming a powerful engine of change, especially in Cambodia’s financial landscape. For students and professionals in finance, it’s crucial to understand how AI is revolutionizing the way money moves, risks are evaluated, and services are delivered.
AI has found a solid foothold in Cambodia, quietly but steadily becoming a game-changer in the financial sector. While international banks may dominate headlines, it’s within local microfinance institutions (MFIs) and small businesses that AI is making its most profound impact.
Supporting the Core of Cambodia’s Economy
Small and medium enterprises (SMEs) and microfinance institutions are the economic backbone of Cambodia. These organizations provide jobs, support local development, and power rural livelihoods. As Cambodia moves deeper into the digital era, AI is emerging as a key ally, helping expand financial access and protecting the systems that support this essential ecosystem.
Why Cambodia Should Embrace AI in Finance?
AI uses smart algorithms to detect patterns in data, allowing for faster and more accurate decision-making. In finance, this means improved capabilities in risk assessment, fraud detection, loan approvals, and customer service personalization.
Read more: Can AI Break Free from Human Control by Rewriting Its Own Code?
One of the biggest challenges in Cambodia’s financial sector is accessibility. A large portion of the population, including small entrepreneurs, lacks formal credit histories. Many don’t possess traditional documentation like payslips or land titles, making it difficult to secure loans.
This is where AI shines. Instead of relying solely on conventional credit scores, AI leverages alternative data—like mobile phone usage, electricity payments, online sales, and mobile wallet activity—to create a financial profile. These insights enable financial institutions to make informed lending decisions, even for those without any borrowing history.
Take, for instance, a small grocery store owner in Siem Reap. She may never have taken out a loan, but she regularly uses mobile money and frequently tops up her mobile balance. Using AI, a lender can evaluate her digital footprint and classify her as a low-risk borrower. Thanks to this insight, she can now access financing to grow her business—an opportunity that would have been out of reach just a few years ago.
Beyond eligibility, AI also accelerates the lending process. Tasks that once took several days can now be completed in minutes. For small business owners, that kind of speed can be transformative.
AI as a Constant Digital Guardian
With the rise in digital payments in Cambodia comes an increase in cybercrime. Scams, phishing attacks, and fraudulent loans are on the rise. AI plays a vital role as an ever-vigilant digital watchdog.
AI-driven systems monitor financial transactions around the clock. They flag suspicious behavior—such as unusually large transfers at odd hours or login attempts from unrecognized devices. These intelligent systems can prevent fraud before it causes harm.
Read more: What is the Digital Community of Cambodia? Why You Need to Join?
AI also predicts potential cyber threats, giving banks and MFIs the ability to reinforce their cybersecurity measures proactively. This layer of invisible protection is especially important in a country where digital literacy is still evolving.
Think of AI as a tireless security guard—always alert, always protecting your financial assets.
Smarter, More Personalized Financial Services
AI’s benefits go beyond fraud prevention and loan processing. It allows financial institutions to better understand and serve their customers.
AI can help tailor financial services—such as creating custom savings plans or designing loan repayment schedules aligned with business cycles. For instance, a rice farmer in Takeo might receive a repayment schedule that aligns with the harvest season. A new borrower might get a smaller loan with a lower interest rate to help build their credit history gradually.
Customer support is also becoming more efficient thanks to AI-powered chatbots. These tools can answer questions in real-time—whether it’s checking your balance, inquiring about interest rates, or resetting a password. This round-the-clock accessibility reduces wait times and makes banking more convenient.
In addition, some fintech apps now use AI to offer basic financial literacy lessons, helping young Cambodians understand budgeting, saving, and debt management.
The Challenges We Must Address
Despite its many benefits, AI isn’t without its challenges. If data fed into AI systems is biased, incomplete, or incorrect, it can lead to unfair decisions—like rejecting a loan without a clear reason. This is known as the “black box” problem, where AI decisions lack transparency.
Read more: What is Cambodia’s National AI Strategy? Why Does It Matter for Your Business?
Moreover, developing a skilled workforce capable of managing and innovating with AI technology remains a hurdle for Cambodia. The country must invest in AI education and training to build local expertise and ensure the technology is used ethically and effectively.
Evidence of AI’s Growing Role in Cambodian Finance
Cambodia’s financial sector is already experiencing the real-world benefits of AI. Major institutions are adopting the technology:
- Wing Bank is exploring AI for fraud detection and personalized customer engagement.
- ACLEDA Bank has introduced automated risk profiling to make smarter loan decisions.
- Several microfinance institutions are now piloting AI chatbots that communicate in Khmer, making digital banking services more inclusive.
Fintech startups are also leveraging AI to offer instant loans to online sellers, using real-time sales data to assess creditworthiness. These innovations not only streamline business operations but also build trust and financial inclusion.
“AI is not just a tool for the future—it’s already making Cambodian finance more intelligent, inclusive, and secure,” says the author, Director of Macro Computing Solutions Co Ltd. With nearly two decades of experience across India, Singapore, France, and Cambodia, he collaborates with banks, MFIs, and development agencies on technology-led financial transformation.
Final Thoughts
Cambodia’s journey toward digital finance is no longer a distant dream—it’s unfolding now, powered by Artificial Intelligence. From improving access to capital for underserved communities to securing digital transactions and tailoring financial products, AI is helping to build a more inclusive and efficient financial system.
As Cambodia continues to embrace innovation, AI will be at the heart of shaping a smarter, safer, and more accessible financial future. The key now is to scale this impact responsibly, ensuring everyone can benefit from the technology—regardless of their background or income level.
What do you think about the rise of AI in Cambodia’s financial system? Share your thoughts and experiences in the comments below!
