However, the full-year result is well below the RON1.5 billion aggregate net profit reported after the first nine months of 2013. The decline was due to costs with restructuring and the sale of non-performing loans.
In 2012, the local banking system posted aggregate losses of RON2.3 billion, hit by rising provisions.
23 out of the 40 active lenders reported profit in 2013. Their combined profit reached RON2.05 billion, while the aggregate loss of the remaining 17 banks was RON1.55 billion.
Overall private lending in Romania fell 3.3% on year to RON218.46 billion in 2013, of which RON103.24 billion were household loans. Total deposits from population rose 6.14% to RON129.7 billion.
At the end of December, the non-performing loans ratio was 21.87% of total loans, slightly down from 21.95% in November.