Last call for relaxed credits promotions

Bankers try to increase loan portfolios before the Romania's National Bank (BNR) applies new credit regulations, aimed at curbing lending, next month. Banks already extended their credit promotions, in an attempt to secure more clients on the last lap.

Bancpost, the fifth-largest lender in 2007 in terms of assets, with a loan portfolio worth €2.8 billion, externalizations excluded, after H1, extended the credit promotions twice. Clients get a promotional interest in the first three months for consumer loans in lei and euro, with no fees until October 10. Furthermore, they can loan money with up to 70 percent debt degree in their incomes until the first week of October.

Other lenders on the market, such as UniCredit Tiriac and Alpha Bank, are also analyzing the extension of loan promotions.

The new lending rules, already published by the BNR in the Official Registry, are aimed to curb lending, especially in foreign currency, and lower lending risks for both banks and clients. They are applied only one year after the central bank issued regulations easing lending, especially on the mortgages segment. Furthermore, BNR increased seven times in a row the key interest rate, in less than one year.

Business Standard