In the first 7 months of the year, loans of individuals to financial institutions increased by 4.1 billion lei (197 million euros), or 1.6 times more than in the whole of 2020. It is the fastest growth rate with an average monthly increase of 28 million euros. The previous record was set in 2019, before the crisis, when the debts of individuals increased by 25.5 million euros per month, says the IDIS Viitorul expert, Veaceslav Ioniță.

Starting with 2020, the source of credit for individuals has changed radically. Thus, in the last 1.5 years, 90% of the increase in the loan portfolio of individuals is due to banks. The debt of individuals from 2020 to date has increased by 317.6 million euros, of which 284 million euros from bank loans and 33.7 million euros from non-bank loans.

After the banking crisis of 2014, non-banking companies represented by: micro-credit companies, savings and loan associations, and leasing companies have greatly increased their loan portfolio on behalf of individuals. But now banks are fighting hard for the best customer: individuals and as a result, they have doubled their loan portfolio in just 2.5 years.

Individuals are the most attractive customer for the financial sector and their share has increased significantly from 14% in 2012 to 47% today.

The indebtedness of individuals has reached 14.2% of GDP, or 2.5 times more than 5 years ago. According to this indicator, Moldova is very fast approaching the regional average, where the degree of indebtedness of individuals is 15-20%. But we are far from the European average, where the indebtedness of individuals to financial institutions is 55-60%.