Corporate loans and business loans reached Lek47.9 billion, (EUR380 million), with a 25 % overall growth.

Retail loans grew by 75 % to Lek21.4 billion, (EUR170 million). Albanian banks have now become more interested in retail services. The banks are mostly interested in growing their business in household services.

Individual loans have doubled in the last five years beginning from very low levels in 1998. For the moment, however, loans remain in low levels. Albanian banks view as more interesting and prudent to invest their resources in government securities. Treasury bills would yield interests three or four percent more then deposit account interests in Lek. But for some time now, Albanian government Treasury bill yields have decreased and banks are now searching for new opportunities where to invest their funds. As a result of decreasing T-Bill yields loan interests decreased during last year also.