Saudi Arabia's King Abdullah has appointed Abdulrahman Al-Humaidi as deputy governor of the kingdom's central bank, the official news agency SPA reported on Sunday.

The appointment should not lead to any policy changes at the central bank, known as the Saudi Arabian Monetary Agency (Sama), analysts say.

Al-Humaidi was previously Sama's deputy governor for technical affairs, a job that allowed him to supervise the banking sector, insurance firms as well as research at Sama.

His appointment as Sama's second top man has been widely expected after ex-deputy governor Muhammad Al-Jasser was promoted in February to become Sama governor.

'There should not be any change as far as Sama's policies are concerned. It is the governor (Jasser) who takes all the decisions at Sama,' a treasurer at a local bank said on condition of anonymity.

The appointment comes as Sama faces one of its toughest tests yet as it deals with the fallout from the financial troubles of private conglomerates Ahmad Hamad Algosaibi and Bros Group (AHAB) and Saad Group.

The affair has thrust Saudi banks into the international spotlight, has contributed to a slowdown in lending to the private sector and raised concern over potential risk to the Saudi financial system. - Reuters