The amount of new loans granted in February of this year added up to 4.024 billion lei, which is by 50.5% more compared to February 2021. The average interest rate for the new loans granted in Moldovan lei was 9.21%, in foreign currencies 4.13%, and for those attached to the exchange rate 3.95%, the National Bank reported.

74.6% represent loans in the national currency, or 3.002 billion lei (+38.8% compared to the previous month and +51.5% compared to February 2021). 23.8% represent foreign currency loans, whose volume recalculated in lei amounted to 959.2 million. Another 1.6% goes to loans attached to the exchange rate, or 62.6 million lei.

The most popular were loans with terms from two to five years, or 52.4% of the total.

Loans in national currency were mainly granted to non-financial businesses (55.4%) and loans to individuals (35.4%). Of the loans granted to non-financial businesses, 32.5% were for trading companies.

Loans in foreign currency were mainly requested by non-financial businesses (97.3%), where the major share (58.9%) belongs to trade.

Consumer loans had the highest share (64.9%) and were granted with an average interest rate of 10.67% (+0.03 points compared to the previous month and +5.23 points compared to February 2021).

The average rate on real estate loans decreased by 0.10 points compared to the previous month and increased by 1.03 percentage points compared to February 2021.

93.9% of total real estate loans were granted in the national currency. Consumer loans were also granted mainly in the national currency (99.8% of total consumer loans).