Bankers, who during the economic boom period lured clients with consumer loans granted upon proof of ID, have over the past two years been trying to offset the declining demand for large loans through aggressive promotional offers for credit cards, which have become the main growth driver of the retail segment overnight.
Amid the falling sales of traditional loans, could credit cards
become the new form of ID card-based loans, given that as small
sums are involved clients get such a product more easily?
Economists do not like such an outlook, rather viewing this as a
bet on the future that could prove risky.
Last year, many banks reported two-digit increases in the number of
issued cards and the value of sums approved on such cards, as
consumer loan portfolios shrank and housing loans were supported
only by the “First Home” scheme.
In 2010, card portfolios rose at a slower pace amid the prolonged
recession, but promotions offers are still driving sales, even
though at a slower pace.