The non-bank lending sector has shown signs of recovery after a stagnation experienced in 2020, the National Commission on the Financial Market said in press release.

Total loans, including financial leasing, recorded by non-bank lending organizations (NBLOs) and savings and loan associations (SLAs) in the first nine months of this year amounted to 12 billion lei or (+1.6 billion lei), showing a steady growth rate compared to 2020, which was significantly affected by the pandemic. In the structure of the loan portfolio, 10.9 billion lei were provided by the NBL sector and over 1 billion lei by the SLAs.

The total value of the assets held by the entire non-bank lending sector increased by 1.4 billion lei, amounting to approximately 13 billion lei, as of September 30, 2021. At the same time, the equity of non-bank lending organizations amounted to more than 4.2 billion lei, increasing by 14.81%, and the own capital accumulated by the SLAs amounted to over 397 million lei, increasing by 10.88% compared to the same period of the previous year.

The rate of non-performing loans in the NBL sector as of September 30 decreased to 14.1% from 14.9%. A similar trend of reanimation is evident in the SLA sector, where the non-performing loans rate (over 90 days) was 6.6%.

As of October 1, 2021, 143 entities with the right to carry out non-bank lending activity were included in the Register of Authorized Non-Bank Lending Organizations. Licenses for professional activity were held by 226 associations.

The number of beneficiaries of non-bank loans (NBLOs and SLAs) exceeded 468,000people, and the average size of a loan was about 25,000 lei.