No faith in banks

I hear that many Cambodians do not trust banks.

Apparently, there was a time in the past when banks closed, and people were not able to withdraw their money before it happened.  Many people lost their savings as a consequence.

Maybe the lack of faith also has roots during the Khmer Rouge era.  When the red army took over the country, people did not have the chance to avail of their money or buy their way out before the persecution and hardship began.

However, many banks in the country today are foreign investments, and Cambodians need to use these banks as to facilitate business and trade among themselves and people in foreign lands.  Banks are also a way to protect one's savings from robbers.

A pretty delicate balance in faith, I think, since foreign banks may feel the need to close suddenly if they are not profitable enough in this country.  And with so many banks in business here, the competition for profit is pretty stiff.  Or so I think, anyway.