BCR boss: Banks pay high interest rates on euro deposits because they need financing

Whether we are talking about Greek-held banks affected by the difficult situation in Greece, or about Romanian-controlled banks, there are many offers of 4% interest rates a year on euro deposits, which is a surprise for the NBR governor.

Very few banks – if any – can secure the necessary amount of resources in euros from the Romanian market, which has generated competition over interest rates on euro-denominated deposits, says Dominic Bruynseels, CEO of BCR.
“Interest rates are high on euro deposits because financing needs cannot be covered locally, banks need to also borrow from parent banks, bearing the cost of the country risk. “In 2009 the BCR took out a subordinated loan worth 120 million euros with an interest rate consisting of six-month EURIBOR plus 4.2%, which matures in 2016.
NBR governor Mugur Isărescu declared himself “very surprised” at the “excessive” interest rates that local banks offer on foreign-currency deposits, saying there are banks that pay 4-5% a year, while in the eurozone “you barely get 1% on any foreign currency deposit.”