More than 45% of Moldova's household savings are held in “dead deposits” – bank accounts with no interest or a symbolic interest rate
Economic expert Veaceslav Ionita notes that while the whole world is looking for investments with decent returns, Moldovan citizens are slowly and steadily perfecting the technique of losing money in banks by placing deposits with no interest or minimal interest rates. The expert estimates that Moldovans have more than €1.9 billion in so-called “dead deposits” — money that does not generate income and loses its value over time due to inflation. These are interest-free accounts and demand deposits with an interest rate of 0.9% in lei and 0.38% in foreign currency. Veaceslav Ioniță emphasizes that the share of such deposits in the total structure of deposits of individuals has grown from 12.7% in 2015 to 33.8% in 2020 and to 45.2% at the end of the second quarter of 2025. The expert explains this situation by the following factors: lack of financial knowledge, fear of buying real estate, poor access to alternatives, and the population's psychology of security. At the same time, the expert suggested several options for profitable investment of citizens' savings. One way is to invest in real estate. In Moldova, it provides a return of 8.5%, while a new strategic opportunity is investment in Romanian real estate. For example, in Bucharest, the market is more stable, and the rate of return is 7.4%. Veaceslav Ionita notes that such investments are easy to manage, as Moldova and Romania share a common language and understandable legislation. Another investment option is government securities, for example, with a 10-year maturity, which provide an annual return of 8.2% and can be purchased independently by the population — a simple, safe, and decent instrument. The expert also recommends keeping money in term bank deposits at 3.8% per annum in Moldovan lei (1.4% in foreign currency, which is practically 0% when inflation and commissions are taken into account). Veaceslav Ioniță called for investing money in a way that generates higher returns, which also contributes to the development of a healthier economy. // 07.08.2025 – InfoMarket.
