One of the main factors to have given corporate lending a boost is the IMM Invest (SME Invest) government scheme, which guarantees up to 80% or 90% of the loans taken for funding small and medium-sized businesses, depending on the type.
Banks in Romania granted 3.47 billion lei in new corporate loans in September, an increase of RON1.1 billion or 48.3% compared with the year-ago month. Corporate loans recorded a 2020 peak, as well as a 14-month high in September.
Lending growth picked up speed in September, compared with July and August.
(English version by Loredana Fratila-Cristescu)