The stock of local currency loans extended by Romanian banks to households rose by RON 864 million (EUR 170 million) in February, marking a 9.9% y\/y annual advance that exceeded the consumer price inflation slightly, according to data published by the National Bank of Romania (BNR).\u00a0<\/p>\n
The annual growth rate eased from 10.2% y\/y in January, and the 0.5% m\/m monthly increase indicates certain moderation from +0.7% m\/m in February 2025 \u2013 but the overall figures still indicate solid credit origination in the retail market. Indeed, the foreign currency-denominated segment of the retail market is losing ground as the stock of real loans denominated in other than local currency decreased by 12.8% y\/y at the end of February.<\/p>\n
Overall, the loans to households increased by 7.9% y\/y to RON 206 billion at the end of February, out of which RON 191 billion was expressed in local currency (+9.9% y\/y) and RON 15 billion (-12.8% y\/y) was denominated in foreign currency.<\/p>\n
Corporate lending gained momentum to +5.9% y\/y at the end of February (+5.4% y\/y in January), when the stock of loans to non-financial companies reached RON 243 billion. But the annual growth lags behind inflation, indicating financial disintermediation.\u00a0<\/p>\n
Government financing remained the most dynamic segment of the credit generation in Romania, with 11.3% y\/y annual increase. The stock of bank loans to the government sector reached RON 275 billion \u2013 exceeding the stock of corporate loans in Romanian banks\u2019 portfolios.<\/p>\n