The weighted average interest rate on new MDL loans in Moldova reached a new historical minimum, amounting to 7.68% per annum in January 2021.
At the same time, versus the previous month, it decreased by 0.17 percentage points, versus January of the previous year, it decreased by 0.67 percentage points. It should be noted that the historical minimum of the weighted average interest rate on new MDL in Moldova was previously 7.8% per annum and was registered in August 2020. The National Bank of Moldova informed that, in January 2021, loans to individuals were provided at the average rate of 6.88% (-0.01 p.p., compared to the previous month; -0.82 p.p. compared to January 2020), to legal entities - 8.32% (-0.08 p.p. and -0.4 p.p., respectively), and to individuals engaged in entrepreneurial activity - 9.03% (+0.7 p.p. and -0.95 p.p., respectively). The volume of MDL loans granted to individuals in January 2020 decreased by 26.8% compared to the previous month, amounting to 631.5 million lei. In terms of the purpose of the loans provided, the largest share was made up of consumer loans (67.9%), which were issued at an average rate of 6.68% per annum (-0.09 p.p. compared to the previous month; -0.9 p.p.), compared to January 2020). Average interest rate on loans to buy real estate in January of this year amounted to 6.8% and increased by 0.14 percentage points, compared to the previous month, but decreased by 0.48 percentage points, compared to January 2020. It should be noted that the share of mortgage loans issued in national currency amounted to 98% and consumer loans in national currency - 99.2%. Loans in national currency with a maturity of 2 to 5 years were most in demand in the reporting month and were provided at an average interest rate of 7.54% (legal entities - 8.52%, individuals - 6.38%, and individuals practicing entrepreneurial activity - 9.21%). At the same time, the highest average interest rate on loans in national currency for legal entities was registered on loans with a maturity of 3 to 6 months, amounting to 9.06% per annum, for individuals - on loans with a maturity of 1 year up to 2 years - 8.8% per annum, and for individuals practicing entrepreneurial activity, on loans for up to 1 month - 12%. The lowest average interest rate on loans in national currency to individuals was the rate on loans for a period of 2 to 5 years, which was 6.38%, for legal entities - the rate on loans for a period of 1 to 2 years, which was 7.87%, and for individuals practicing entrepreneurial activity, the rate on loans for a period of more than 5 years, which was 6.95%. // 09.03.2021 - InfoMarket.
