Data released on July 28th from a press conference in Lhasa indicates that Tibet's financial sector performed robustly during the first half of 2026. Key trends include steady credit expansion and continued declines in financing costs, with the financial system deepening its focus on areas critical to the plateau's development, including technology, green initiatives, and inclusive finance. This effort is complemented by reforms in cross-border payments and corporate financing transparency.
According to statistics from the People's Bank of China's Tibet Branch, the total social financing stock in Tibet reached 1.1 trillion yuan by the end of June, a year-on-year increase of 19.3%. This growth rate is 11.8 percentage points higher than the national average. The balance of domestic and foreign currency loans across the region stood at 767.53 billion yuan, up 16.9% year-on-year.
Leveraging special preferential financial policies granted by the central government, Tibet has continued to lower financing costs. The weighted average interest rate on newly issued general commercial loans in the first half of the year was only 1.26%. A locally innovated "Loan Transparency Form" system was implemented, with 1,380 forms completed during its pilot phase, successfully reducing the comprehensive financing cost for businesses to 1.18%. As of July, this measure has been rolled out across all of Tibet, fully clarifying all loan-related fees and making corporate financing completely transparent and traceable.
Key financial initiatives focused on technology, green development, inclusive finance, elderly care, and digital finance are taking effect on the plateau. The balance of green loans grew by 27.2% year-on-year, while inclusive loan growth approached 20%. Online digital credit products are expanding rapidly, enabling small and micro-business owners to complete credit applications and loan drawdowns without leaving their homes.
To cater to inbound tourists and border trade needs, Tibet is continuously optimizing the payment environment for foreign nationals. Multi-currency exchange points and foreign card acceptance devices have been deployed at ports and scenic spots, facilitating the convenient exchange of 20 foreign currencies. Bilingual publicity for deposit insurance has been fully implemented, reinforcing the financial security network on the snowy plateau. In the first half of the year, personal consumption loans grew by 25.5% year-on-year, with financial supply increasing in key consumption areas such as tourism, housing, and transportation.