RON mortgages, unsuccessful even through "First Home"

Bankers have sold only 195 RON loans through the “First Home” scheme, accounting for 0.7% in the total number of guarantees granted so far by the state, as because of the higher interest rates than for foreign currency denominated loans, demand for RON loans is almost inexistent.
The value of RON loans released through this programme stands at 20.5bn RON (4.8m euros), out of a total amount of state guarantees of around 1.2bn euros, according to the data provided by the National Guarantee Fund for SME loans (FNGCIMM), the institution managing the guarantees earmarked for this programme.
“The interest rate differential is clearly in favour of foreign currency loans. Moreover, people borrowing in euros are not facing a very high risk as the central bank has clearly indicated the exchange rate will be kept under control. A way of boosting RON funding would have been for part of the monthly instalment for RON loans to be subsidised by the state,” comments Nicolaie Chideșciu, chief-economist with ING Bank.