7 Sep 2009 19:45

Share of problem loans at Ukrainian banks grows to 7.2%

KYIV. Sept 7 (Interfax) - The share of problem loans in the Ukrainian banking system currently stands at 7.2% and is being entirely covered with reserves, National Bank of Ukraine Chairman Volodymyr Stelmakh said at a press conference in Kyiv on Monday.

The share of problem loans had increased 0.7 percentage points in July to 6.17% as of August 1, the National Bank said earlier.

In absolute terms, the volume of problem loans increased 13.2%, or by 5.376 billion hryvni, to 46.055 billion hryvni in July compared to growth of 11.5%, or 4.182 billion hryvni, in June. Problem debt increased 160%, or by 28.04 billion hryvni, in January-July 2009.

The official exchange rate on September 7 was 7.995 hryvni/$1.