The impact of the ongoing coronavirus pandemic continued to challenge banks in the second quarter. During the period, assets of 42* universal and commercial banks (U/KBs) rose 2.71% year on year, the most sluggish growth observed in 15 years, or since the 1.02% growth in the first quarter of 2006.

Moreover, the aggregate loans of these U/KBs fell for the fourth consecutive quarter. In the April-June period, loans fell by 5.60%, albeit slower than the 5.98% decline posted in the preceding three-month period.