BRD: Romania's central bank will increase key rate to 2% in 2018

Romania’s National Bank (BNR) will keep the monetary policy interest rate at 1.75% next year, but will increase it to 2% in 2018, according to the latest macroeconomic report of BRD. The lending to the private sector will continue to gain ground, and the growth rate will reach 3-4% in the next two years. The euro/leu exchange rate will hover around the RON 4.5/EUR threshold. The loans/deposits rate will increase towards 90% in 2018, according to the BRD analysts. Household and company deposits are still higher compared to the volume of granted loans. The loans/deposits ratio reached 84% at the end of September. This means that there is still potential for growth in lending. The total loans amounted to RON 216.8 billion (EUR 48 billion) in September, up 1.2% year-on-year. Deposits advanced by 11.1% to RON 258.5 billion (EUR 57.2 billion). BRD is the second largest bank in Romania based on its assets. editor@romania-insider.com