Consumer loans gained 4.62% on the average in the first seven months of the year, below the 6% posted in the corresponding period of 2006, according to Dorin Cojocaru, Executive Manager - Retail, Romanian Commercial Bank (BCR), who attended the Bucharest International Real Estate Congress.
"This year, the overall sum of consumer loans is in line with the overall lending trend, which is ascending, but slower than last year. July was a peak month compared to July 2006, namely 7.22% compared to 3.79%, amid an increase in forex-denominated loans," Cojocaru added.
"In 2006, the average for the first seven months was 40.68% forex-denominated loans from the overall lending portfolio. In the same period of 2007, it decreased to 42.68%," Cojocaru said. Referring to mortgage loans, he said the portfolio had decreased to approximately 19% compared to some 21% in December 2006.