Banking Nerd
Banking without borders—navigating the complexities of finance in a world of restrictions.

Latest

07
May
How Not to Be Gaslit by Your Banker

How Not to Be Gaslit by Your Banker

When Cambodian banks lie about legal requirements, don’t argue—escalate. Ray Tan exposes the truth behind banking gaslighting and how to fight back using NBC law and smart escalation.
3 min read
20
Apr
Inside ACLEDA: Cambodia’s Most Established Bank—Powerful, Practical, and Problematic

Inside ACLEDA: Cambodia’s Most Established Bank—Powerful, Practical, and Problematic

ACLEDA is Cambodia’s most entrenched bank. Foreigners can open wallets remotely, access USD/KHR, and upgrade to full accounts fast. Its dominance continues, but growth has slowed as rivals like Wing and ABA push harder on innovation.
4 min read
15
Apr
Why ABA Sets the Standard for Banking in Cambodia—But Doesn’t Get a Free Pass

Why ABA Sets the Standard for Banking in Cambodia—But Doesn’t Get a Free Pass

ABA is the most operationally competent bank in Cambodia. Fast onboarding, digital dominance, and QR ubiquity set it apart—but interbank friction and overstated cross-border promises mean it still deserves scrutiny.
4 min read
10
Apr
Broken at the Border: Why the Bakong Tourists App Fails Foreigners.

Broken at the Border: Why the Bakong Tourists App Fails Foreigners.

Cambodia’s Bakong QR system works well—unless you’re a tourist. The Bakong Tourists app is plagued by broken Visa integration, high fees, and forced currency conversion. Here’s why it fails foreigners and which alternatives actually work.
2 min read
07
Apr
Cambodia Public Bank Is Not Cambodian

Cambodia Public Bank Is Not Cambodian

What happens when a nation’s banking system is foreign-owned but locally branded? Cambodia’s financial sovereignty may be more illusion than reality.
2 min read
21
Feb
Banking Without Blind Spots: Mastering the Art of Due Diligence

Banking Without Blind Spots: Mastering the Art of Due Diligence

Guest author Ray Tan reveals how hidden incentives, language barriers, and cultural nuances can undermine trust—and shares key questions to ask for reliable, unbiased recommendations in Southeast Asia.
3 min read
10
Feb
The Deposit Insurance Illusion: Why It’s Mostly Marketing

The Deposit Insurance Illusion: Why It’s Mostly Marketing

Deposit insurance is marketed as a safeguard, but it rarely protects large depositors. Cambodia lacks a formal scheme, yet as Silicon Valley Bank showed, real security comes from government intervention, not coverage limits.
4 min read
31
Jan
Where the Smart Money Moves: The Banking Nerd Mission

Where the Smart Money Moves: The Banking Nerd Mission

Southeast Asia’s banking access is tightening, but Cambodia remains a rare opportunity. With 63 banks and deposit rates up to 8%, here’s where smart money moves.
3 min read