Mihaescu, IFC: First lending steps are already visible

Banks are holding enough cash, and lending will be resumed,
with the first steps already visible, says Ana-Maria Mihaescu, head
of IFC mission in Romania. Bankers, however, are waiting to see
clearer signs the economy is recovering first. “(…) I believe the
first lending steps are already visible. We cannot expect a rapid
recovery, this has always been the issue. Recovery will be a bit
slower. I believe IMF support has helped a lot, by rebuilding
trust,” explained Mihaescu in an interview with ZF. IFC, World
Bank’s investment arm, has a 650m-euro exposure to Romania, of
which around 60% to the banking system. Mihaescu says the volume of
loans banks can grant is constrained by the level of available
capital. She maintains financial companies can be helped either
through capital injections, or by doing away with bad assets. IFC
showed willingness to help banks process their bad loans. So far,
no banks in Romania have resorted to IFC programme of toxic asset
takeover. In Mihaescu’s opinion, the Romanian banking system has
successfully overcome the crisis and outlooks are positive despite
the bad loan problems that may emerge this year.