The Bank of Portugal released updated January 2026 statistics on bank lending and deposits for households and firms, highlighting continued acceleration in housing lending and a pick-up in household deposit growth. Housing loans increased 10.4% year on year, the strongest annual growth rate since February 2006, while loans to non-financial corporations rose 3.7%. Total lending to households grew 9.8% year on year, the highest rate since February 2008. The stock of housing loans increased by EUR 803 million from December to EUR 111.7 billion, while consumer and other-purpose loans rose by EUR 49 million to EUR 33.8 billion, with annual growth of 7.9%. Corporate loan stocks stood at EUR 74.1 billion, up EUR 7 million on December, with micro and small firms still growing (14.2% and 5.0%) and medium-sized and large firms contracting (-1.8% and -4.9%). Household deposits totalled EUR 200.7 billion, down EUR 61 million on the month as overnight deposits fell and term deposits rose, but increased 4.4% year on year; corporate deposits fell EUR 2.3 billion on the month to EUR 73.3 billion, with annual growth slowing to 7.7%. The next update is scheduled for 26 March 2026.
Bank of Portugal 2026-02-26
Bank of Portugal publishes January 2026 banking loans and deposits statistics showing record housing credit growth
The Bank of Portugal's January 2026 statistics reveal a 10.4% year-on-year increase in housing loans, marking the strongest growth since February 2006, and a 9.8% rise in total household lending, the highest since February 2008. Household deposits grew 4.4% year on year to EUR 200.7 billion, despite a monthly decline, while corporate deposits fell EUR 2.3 billion on the month, with annual growth slowing to 7.7%.