Central bank extends lending period for commercial banks

The National Bank of Moldova decided to extend by one year the period within which the commercial banks can use the financial resources granted by it in 2009. On April 7, 2010, the balance of the loans released by the central bank totalled 541.8 million lei. Thus, the companies working in the real sector will continue to benefit from loans at competitive interest rates, the National Bank says in a communiqué, quoted by Info-Prim Neo. The central bank's base rate that is variable during the lending period, plus a margin of 0.5 percentage points, will be used on the loans with the extended utilization period and on the loans that will be granted. According to the central bank, the decision to extend the term of the granted loans and release new ones will not affect the internal money market and will not create inflationary pressure.