At the end of September 2019, commercial banks' lending totalled 253.5 billion kuna (€34 billion), inching up 0.9 percent since December 2018, with kuna-denominated loans growing in popularity while while those in foreign currencies dropping, central bank said.

In the said period, kuna loans went up by more than HRK 7.8 billion, while those in foreign currency dropped by HRK 5.5 billion.

Foreign currency loans have been decreasing since mid-2012, when euro loans accounted for 76.3% of all loans. At the end of September 2019, their share was 56%.

Household loans accounted for more than half of all loans, totalling HRK 130.1 billion, HRK 5.6 billion more than at the end of 2018 and 6.1% more than at the end of September 2018.

Year on year, household loans went up 7%. Households markedly borrow in the domestic currency and general purpose cash loans continue to record two-digit growths.

Corporate loans at the end of September 2019 dropped to HRK 80.5 billion, up 1.6% on the month. Annual growth remained negative for the sixth consecutive month, accelerating to -4.6%, with corporate loans decreasing by HRK 2 billion from the end of 2018 (-2.5%).

Lending to the central government at the end of September 2019 went up for the second consecutive month to HRK 34.5 billion. Year on year, it dropped 3.6%, while the decrease from the end of 2018 was HRK 1.8 billion (-5.3%).

(€1 = 7.43 kuna)