Household lending in Romanian lei rose 8.9% over the year, while leu lending to other sectors fell 3%. August 2026 reveals two different directions within the same market.
Anyone considering a loan should understand that divide before treating overall growth as evidence that borrowing has become cheaper or easier to obtain.
The provisional figures describe outstanding balances on 31 August.
The statistical release published on 23 September puts non-government credit at about RON 476.7 billion, up 8.2% from August 2025.
Monthly growth was 0.9% in nominal terms and 0.7% after inflation. Annual growth after inflation was only 1.9%, well below the headline nominal figure.
August 2026 lending: figures on a common basis
| Category | Balance (RON million) | Monthly | Annual |
|---|---|---|---|
| Non-government total | 476,691.5 | 0.9% | 8.2% |
| Households: lei | 202,803.1 | 1.2% | 8.9% |
| Households: foreign currency, RON equivalent | 14,003.3 | -1.1% | -12.2% |
| Other sectors: lei | 115,521.7 | 0.2% | -3.0% |
| Other sectors: foreign currency, RON equivalent | 144,363.5 | 1.3% | 20.9% |
Amounts in the table are in millions of lei. Foreign-currency balances are converted into lei; they are not amounts borrowed in euros.
“Other sectors” includes non-financial corporations and non-monetary financial institutions, so the category is broader than ordinary businesses alone.
Households: more leu debt, less foreign-currency debt
Household leu loans reached RON 202.8 billion after a monthly increase of 1.2%. Foreign-currency household borrowing fell to about RON 14 billion, down 12.2% annually and 1.1% monthly. These two parts of household debt are moving in opposite directions.
The figures do not count approved applications.
An outstanding balance measures debt remaining at a particular date. New lending, repayments and other adjustments change that balance; the published series also includes non-performing loans. An 8.9% increase therefore tells us neither the approval rate nor the average interest rate available to an applicant today.
For a personal loan comparison, keep the amount and repayment term identical. For a home purchase, use the separate mortgage comparison. An aggregate market balance cannot identify the right product for an individual borrower.
Foreign-currency growth is not a reason to switch currencies
Foreign-currency credit to other sectors, expressed in lei, rose 20.9% annually to RON 144.4 billion. Leu credit to the same category fell 3% annually, although it increased 0.2% from July. A yearly decline and a monthly increase can both be true.
The table does not reveal why borrowers chose a currency.
Foreign-currency revenues can reduce a mismatch between income and repayments for some borrowers. Aggregate data do not establish that this explains every loan. Someone paid in lei takes on exchange-rate exposure by borrowing in another currency, even when the advertised interest rate looks appealing.
Measurement matters too. Total foreign-currency credit rose 17% when expressed in lei but 12.9% when expressed in euros. Currency conversion affects the comparison. Check exchange rates while keeping the reference rate separate from the actual conversion price charged by a provider.
Deposits grew overall, but not every monthly category increased
Deposits held by resident non-government customers reached around RON 688.3 billion, up 8.8% annually and 0.5% monthly. The total includes current accounts, overnight deposits and term deposits. It is not simply household savings locked into fixed-term accounts.
Household leu deposits fell 0.4% during the month to approximately RON 269.6 billion, despite rising 7% over the year. Growth in the overall deposit total does not mean every household saved more. Nor does it prove that deposit interest rates increased.
What to check before making your own decision
The market provides context. Your contract determines the cost.
Kreditano’s practical reading starts with APR, the total repayable amount and the conditions that could change the interest rate. Growth in national lending balances is not an argument for taking a loan. Our guide to APR explains why nominal interest alone is insufficient for comparing costs.
Test the payment against your own budget and leave room for unexpected expenses. The mortgage simulator helps explore scenarios. Its result is an estimate, not a credit offer or a promise of approval.
These provisional data cover one month and may be revised. They show households and other sectors taking different paths without establishing the causes. For a borrower, the useful question remains the cost and risk of their own contract, rather than how quickly the market is expanding.