Government-owned banks in emerging economies commonly suffer from a lack of good governance, non-performing loans, undetected money laundering and other management malpractices. Managing and disclosing risks are significant issues for managers of government-owned banks. This article explores the managerial perception of risk disclosure by these government banks. Data were collected through in-depth interviews with 35 executives from government banks, government regulatory, and monitoring authorities. Institutional pressure, along with risk committees and board independence, are critical contributing factors for risk disclosure.