The financial situation of the banking system at the end of this April remained robust, with the main prudential indicators being higher both at aggregate level and at individual level, said experts of the independent think tank Expert-Grup, who presented the banking performance rankings at the end of April, IPN reports.

The rankings are headed by three banks: BC Moldova-Agroindbank (MAIB), BC Mobiasbanca and BC Moldindconbank (MICB). Amid improved performance, BC ProCreditBank and BC BCR Chisinau witnessed a consistent advance compared with the previous months.

The experts said the risk weighted capital adequacy remained at over 30% in the whole banking sector. The liquidity of banks was much higher the regulated limits and the limits recommended by the banking practice. This amplifies the appearance of much higher opportunity costs. However, the banks continue to constantly make profit based on a consistent banking margin, positive differences in the currency exchange rates and active use of monetary policy instruments, especially the National Bank Certificates.

Thus, the profit made by the banks in the first four months of this year amounted to about 555.4 million lei, being negatively influenced by the losses sustained by one bank (BC Eximbank – 118 million lei following the restructuring of assets and taking over by new shareholders).

The lending activity intensified slightly both as regards the newly provided loans and the total volume of portfolio. Supported by an increasing volume of consumption loans typical of the private individuals, the volume of loans at the end of this April stood at 32.5 billion lei, up about 200 million lei from March. The volume of loans released to private individuals for purchasing/building real estate grew by about 80 million lei, bringing to the forefront the results of the First House program, most probably.

The experts said the indicators typical of the quality of the loan portfolio continues to improve. Following the rise in the volume of provided loans and the reduction in the volume of nonperforming loans, the latter at the end of April represented an average value of 15.6%, oscillating between 4% and 35%.