During nine months of this year, deposits of individuals and legal entities decreased. Also, there was an increase in the absolute value of expired loans, non-performing loans and, as a result, the worsening of the quality indicators of the loan portfolio compared to the end of the previous year, the National Bank of Moldova reported.

The decrease in the balance of deposits was mainly due to external events. According to prudential reports, the balance decreased by 2.1 billion lei or by 2.3%, constituting 88.0 billion lei (deposits of natural persons constituted 60.9% of total deposits, deposits of legal entities – 37.8% and bank deposits 1.3%).

The situation in the banking sector, as reflected by reports presented by the banks, shows that the total assets constituted 125.0 billion lei, increasing during 9 months of the year by 5.5% (6.5 billion lei)  In the structure of assets, the largest share went to the balance sheet item “Loans and advances at amortized value”, which constituted 46.6% (58.2 billion lei), increasing by 0.5 percentage points compared to the end of the year previous.

The gross (prudential) balance of loans constituted 48.2% of total assets or 60.2 billion lei, increasing during the analyzed period by 6.9% (3.9 billion lei). At the same time, the volume of new loans granted during 9 months of 2022 decreased by 11.5% compared to the same period of the previous year.

As of September 30, 11 banks licensed by the National Bank were active in Moldova. One bank still under supervision as part of early intervention procedures initiated on January 11, 2019. At the end of September, the profit in the banking system amounted to 2.8 billion lei, increasing by 71.6% (1.2 billion lei lei) compared to the same period of the previous year.