The demand for loans from companies is on the rise, while retailclients have adjusted to the crisis conditions, says DominicBruynseels, head of BCR, the biggest local bank.
This year, BCR intends to increase the loans granted by up to10%, with the growth driven mostly by the higher demand fromstate-run companies and from infrastructure projects carried out bythe public authorities. As for the retail segment, hopes are pinnedagain on the "First Home" governmental scheme, while consumerconfidence is still undermined by the gloomy unemploymentprospects.
In 2009, BCR's loan portfolio fell by about 2% in euros, to 10.9billion euros. Calculated in RON, the volume rose by 7%, but theexchange rate played a part in the statistics in this case. Evenso, BCR increased its market share on the lending segment by 0.5%,to 22% by the end of last year, even though private lending shrankacross the entire system. Bankers blamed the lack of demand forloans from clients, while company managers often criticised the toohigh interest rates.
"The issue of demand for financing remains on the corporatesegment, but not because of the entrepreneurs' lack of confidence,but because of the lack of orders. Industrial output is alreadygrowing, there are positive signs, but we will not revert to thelevels before crisis. Many companies, however, have madeinvestments during this period, and when the market will rebound,they will be more efficient," Bruynseels said during a meeting withjournalists yesterday held to discuss the group's last yearresults.
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