3.7 billion euros in overdue loans at the end of September

Individuals and companies had 15.7 billion RON (equivalent to 3.7 billion euros) in past due instalments, with the pace of overdue loans rising against preceding months amid growing problems with foreign-currency loans. The share of overdue instalments in the overall volume of loans climbed to 7.5% in September, almost double against the end of last year, according to data from the NBR (National Bank of Romania).

The value of overdue instalments on foreign currency loans rose by 245 million euros in September, to 1.96 billion euros (equivalent to 8.4 billion RON), continuing the significant portfolio deterioration on this segment, showed as early as spring. The problems are mainly generated by companies and by individual customers who took out consumer loans.

“Data from the Credit Bureau show overdue payments for mortgage loans continue to be low, with the rise of overdue loans for foreign currency loans largely involving the consumer loan segment and the corporate segment. Mortgage loans remained the most dynamic segment, with a 23% rise in the past year,” says Rozalia Pal, chief economist of UniCredit Țiriac Bank.