Business-lending dips 1.2% in Dec, 0.3% for 2009
MOSCOW. Feb 16 (Interfax) - Russian bank loans to non-financial organizations decreased 156.1 billion rubles, or 1.2%, to 12.542 trillion rubles in the month of December, the Central Bank reported.
For 2009 as a whole, only January, April, and November showed growth in the ruble value of banks' combined credit portfolio. It increased 6.9% in January, from 12.510 trillion rubles - or by 32 billion, equivalent to $1 billion. The portfolio expanded 34.2% in 2008 and 51.5% in 2007.
Combined loans to private borrowers in 2009 decreased in eleven months out of twelve, the exception being January (+0.5%). Over the past year, this portfolio contracted by 443.4 billion rubles, or by 11.0%, to 3.574 trillion rubles. It had grown 35.2% in 2008 and 57.8% in 2007.