Belarusian banks have begun to limit lending in national currency

Some of the Belarusian banks, including members of the three largest Belpromstroibank and Belagroprombank, began to restrict the issuance of loans in local currency. Sources in banking circles told a RIA Novosti oral recommendation of the National Bank of Belarus to restrain consumer and car loans. In the last week in the country amid expectations of devaluation of the Belarusian ruble sharply increased demand for dollars and euros. Belarusian banks are currently engaged in sale of foreign currency to the population, last week, many of them have introduced temporary restrictions on foreign exchange payments for ruble card accounts - first medium-sized banks, and then the big ones. BPS-Bank on its website reports that "temporarily, on April 3, shall not receive a package of documents on the granting of loans for consumer needs and purchase of vehicles and real estate financing to citizens in need of better housing conditions." Belarusian subsidiary of the Russian Savings Bank as the volume of credit and the amount of assets in third place in the country. The second of these indicators Bank of Belarus - Belagroprombank - temporarily suspended the acceptance of documents for the issuance of loans to purchase real estate and restructuring of foreign currency loans in rubles. Meanwhile, the bank continues to issue car loans and consumer loans. Issuance of loans to natural persons in foreign currency in Belarus from January 1, 2011 is officially banned after a three-year temporary moratorium. National Bank of Belarus verbally encouraged commercial banks to curb the issuance of consumer and auto loans, to reduce pressure on the currency market, RIA Novosti reported sources in the two Belarusian banks. "Last week, the leadership of the National Bank at a meeting with the management of commercial banks, concerns were expressed, which has increased in recent years the demand for consumer loans puts additional pressure on the currency market. National Bank considers it appropriate in this situation is to limit the issuance of such loans," - said the banker. "Short-term ruble-denominated loans is primarily directed to the conversion of foreign currency in cash in the wake of devaluation and a sharp rise in imports of cars to increase import duties on them from July 1 this year," - said one interviewee. According to him, "NBB did not set any time limit and thus no longer prohibits the issuance of consumer loans." "The essence of the advice boils down to a more careful assessment of risks faced by banks and customer's creditworthiness," - said a bank representative. On materials RIA Novosti