March bank statistics show $17.9 bln loaned, $17.3 deposited

Commercial banks in Georgia loaned ₾44.87 billion ($17.9 bln) and received deposits of ₾43.34 billion ($17.3 bln) in March, the latest data from the National Bank of Georgia shows.

The volume of loans increased by 0.93 percent compared to the previous month, while the number of deposits decreased by 0.62 percent month-on-month.

Last month, the volume of term deposits increased by 0.44 percent, while on-demand deposits decreased by 1.28 percent, the NBG also said.

Loans taken out in the national currency amounted to ₾7.39 billion ($2.95 bln), while loans in foreign currencies constituted ₾12.46 billion ($4.98 bln).

In other figures, the total assets of Georgian commercial banks decreased by 0.67 percent and constituted ₾451.4 million ($180.5 mln).

There were 15 commercial banks - 13 of them foreign-owned entities - operating in the country as of the end of March.