Bankers would like minimum reserves set up for leasing companies, too

Bankers have asked the NBR (National Bank of Romania) to set up minimum mandatory reserves for leasing companies for the funds they attract, in the wake of increased competition due to the reduced cost of funding. “We have explained to the National Bank that leasing is becoming increasingly competitive. This is not a bad thing, but the funding conditions are different for leasing companies,” Radu Ghetea, chairman of the Romanian Banking Association (ARB), told ZF. The National Bank has analysed the possibility of forcing leasing companies to set up minimum reserves, but reached the conclusion that such a decision would be an infringement of the legislation in force. “Imposing such a legislative norm would be in breach of the legislation in force, of the European Central Bank regulations and of the practice of other central banks,” said Florin Georgescu, first vice-governor of the NBR, in charge of supervision and regulation, in response to the bankers’ demand.