The National Bank of Moldova published March 2025 statistics on new bank lending and interest rates, showing new loans of MDL 7,383.0 million, up 16.7% from February. Moldovan leu lending accounted for the majority of new credit, alongside a modest increase in average MDL lending rates. MDL-denominated loans represented 74.4% of new lending (MDL 5,489.4 million), up 13.4% month on month. Loans with maturities of two to five years were the most common (48.2% of new loans), and lending to legal entities in this maturity bracket accounted for 30.9% of total new lending. The average nominal rate on new MDL loans rose by 0.19 percentage points to 8.60%, while the average rate on foreign-currency loans fell by 0.07 percentage points to 5.62%. Households contracted MDL 2,312.1 million in new loans (+9.0%), with 58.0% for consumption and 41.7% for mortgages, mainly in MDL; average MDL consumer and mortgage rates increased to 10.66% and 7.12%, respectively. For legal entities, MDL lending increased by 15.3%, foreign-currency lending by 28.1% and exchange-rate-linked lending by 13.1%, with non-financial commercial companies taking 61.5% of new loans; the average corporate MDL rate rose to 8.07% and the corporate foreign-currency rate declined to 5.62%.
National Bank of Moldova 2025-04-18
National Bank of Moldova reports March 2025 new lending up 16.7% to MDL 7.383bn as leu loan rates tick higher
The National Bank of Moldova reported a 16.7% increase in new bank lending for March 2025, totaling MDL 7,383.0 million, with MDL-denominated loans comprising 74.4% of new credit. The average nominal rate on new MDL loans rose to 8.60%, while the rate on foreign-currency loans decreased to 5.62%. Lending to legal entities saw significant growth, with MDL lending up 15.3% and foreign-currency lending up 28.1%.