The released new loans last December were 4.378,3 billion lei, a decrease of almost 7% on Decmeber 2021. The loans repayment in two to five years remained the most popular ones, representing 47.1% of the provided loans, IPN reports.

According to the National Bank of Moldova, 69% were loans released in national currency and they totaled 3.023,1 billion lei. Slightly over 29% were loans released in foreign currencies and these came to 1.273,6 billion lei when being recalculated in Moldovan lei. Almost 2% were loans attached to the exchange rate of the currency and they added up to 81.6 million lei.

The nominal average interest rate on new loans provided in national currency was 13.97%, on those released in foreign currencies was 5.13%, while on those attached to the exchange rate of the currency was 5.48%.

Consumer loans represented 81.6% and were provided at an average rate of 16.90% (+1.47 percentage points compared with a month before and +6.54 percentage points against December 2021).

The average rate on mortgages raised in national currency rose by 0.12 percentage points on a month before and by 5.44 percentage points on December 2021 and was 13.01%.

The central bank said that 57.5% of all the mortgages and 99.9% of the consumer loans were provided in national currency.

The loans in national currency repayable in two to five years, which totaled 1.408,4 billion lei, were granted at an average rate of 14.11% (legal entities –12.87%, persons practicing activities – 16.74%, while private individuals – 16.86%).