Golovchenko: Belarusian banks increased lending volumes by 14% in January-September 2025
In January-September 2025, the country's banking system increased lending to the economy by 14 percent – as noted by Roman Golovchenko, the Chairman of the Board of the National Bank, after his today’s report to President Aleksandr Lukashenko
A month and a half ago, the Head of State held a meeting with the banking sector representatives, directing them to ensure financial support for the economy. The topic has been discussed today as well. When asked by journalists whether banks have enough resources, whether enterprises apply for these resources and what they mostly take money for, Mr. Golovchenko said, “As for resource support for the economy, I informed the President that the task is being implemented quite successfully this year. In the first nine months of 2025, banks increased the volume of lending to the economy by 14 percent, and investment lending is growing quite rapidly. This has not come from nothing: it is a deliberate policy to stimulate investment lending. As a result, we allocated Br4.5bn worth of investment loans in nine months (almost 60 percent more than last year). Currently, the liquidity in the banking system is at a fairly good level, and the resource base exceeds Br150bn. The banking system is ready to extend credits at reasonable rates to virtually all projects (naturally, those that pay off) that will be offered by the real sector of the economy.”
As for lending to individuals, the focus has been on lending for the purchase of domestically produced goods. Mr. Golovchenko explained, “To date, such loans have been issued in the amount of Br1bn+, or 23 percent more than in the first nine months of last year.”
According to the Chairman of the Board of the National Bank, the regulator's policy is aimed at making investment loans even more affordable and attractive. Work is underway in all other areas as well. Mr. Golovchenko noted, “I reported to the President that every instruction that had been given [at the September meeting with the banking sector representatives] has already been transformed into a corresponding instruction from the National Bank. We have decided on which regulations should be adopted and at what time. Some decisions have already been made on smaller, private issues, and some have been planned for a certain period. They all will definitely be implemented.”
