How banks used their “First Home” allocations

In the first stage of the "First Home" scheme, banks granted the highest number of loans in Bucharest and in Western Romania, mostly for old homes. The usage of the amounts allocated ranged from 26% to over 80%, according to data supplied by banks.

Greek-held Alpha Bank, for instance, had granted 1,080 loans via the "First Home" scheme" until the end of last month, when another 500 applications were in the process of being approved. 48 million euros were granted, i.e. 50.5% of the guarantee cap allocated for the bank. Cumulated, the 19 banks participating in the scheme granted loans worth around 600 million euros, accounting for a little more than half the guarantee cap allocated for the entire scheme.

On the other hand, ATE Bank, a small player, used 81% of the allocated amount. The bank granted more than one hundred loans worth a total of just 5.3 million euros. The average loan amounted to 47,500 euros.

According to data provided by banks, ATE Bank was the bank that used the most of its allocation for the "First Home" scheme. However, according to market information, Banca Transilvania used up its entire allocated amount, as it guarantee cap was much lower than the potential of the bank's distribution network.