December 2 (SeeNews) - The credit portfolio of Macedonian commercial banks reached 175.384 billion denars ($4.3 billion/2.6 billion euro) at the end of October, 0.2% up from a month earlier and 4.6% higher on the year, Macedonia's central bank, NBRM, said on Wednesday.
Loans to households rose by an annual 5.6% and remained unchanged on the month at 72.15 billion denars in October, NBRM said in a monthly report. Credits to companies rose by 4.1% on the year and were 0.3% up on the month at 103.01 billion denars.
The Macedonian banks' deposit portfolio, which includes time and savings deposits in foreign and domestic currency, totalled 181.947 billion denars at the end of October, up by 3.6% on the year and 2.3% higher on the month.
Deposits to households amounted to 119.023 billion denars, up 1.9% on the month and 11.4% higher on the year. The deposits of companies rose 2.7% on the month and were 16.9% down on the year, reaching 53.104 billion denars.
Eighteen commercial banks operate in Macedonia, a country of around two million people.
(1 euro=61.8951 Macedonian denars)