Foreign currency-denominated deposits at banks in South Korea slipped in December from the previous month as the value of both U.S. dollar deposits and Chinese yuan deposits fell, data showed Friday.

Foreign currency deposits held by residents reached US$61.1 billion as of the end of December, down $2.7 billion from the previous month, according to the Bank of Korea.

Residents cover local citizens, foreign companies and foreigners staying here for more than six months. The data excludes inter-bank foreign currency deposits.

The on-month decline came as deposits at the local branches of Chinese lenders trended lower, the central bank explained.

Deposits in the greenback, which accounted for 58.9 percent of all foreign deposits, declined by $2 billion in December, reaching a 1-year low of $36 billion.

Deposits in the Chinese currency slipped $470 million to $19.4 billion, posting a second straight month of decline. They accounted for 31.7 percent of all foreign currency deposits.

Deposits in the euro and the yen dipped $130 million and $120 million to $2.1 billion and $2.4 billion, respectively, according to the data. (Yonhap)