In December 2023, new loans represented 5.48 billion lei, a 16% increase compared to November. Most of them, 4.08 billion lei or 74.4%, were loans in the national currency, which is by 17.9% more compared to the previous month, the National Bank of Moldova reported.

The most popular were loans maturing in 2 to 5 years, accounting for 51.1% of the total. 36.6% of the total loans were granted to corporate clients.

According to the NBM, the average nominal rate for new loans in the national currency decreased by 0.36 points from the previous month to 10.22%. The average rate for loans in foreign currencies increased by 0.13 points to 6.8%.

In December, individuals took out loans amounting to 1.26 billion lei, down 0.4% from the previous month. Most of them, 67.2%, were consumption loans.

Real estate loans accounted for 32.4% of all loans granted to individuals. 99.8% of them were granted in national currency.

The average rate on consumer loans granted in the national currency decreased by 0.21 points to 12.12%, and the average rate on loans granted in the national currency for the purchase of real estate decreased by 0.12 percentage points to 8.72%.

Compared to the previous month, corporate clients borrowed more loans in the national currency last December (+28.7%). The volume of foreign currency loans increased by 11.7%, and those linked to the currency rate decreased by 4.7%.

The average rate on loans granted to corporate clients in the national currency decreased by 0.34 percentage points to 9.80%. At the same time, the average rate on loans granted in foreign currencies increased by 0.12 percentage points to 6.79%.