TIRANA, Dec 19 /ATA/- Lending in Albania’s local currency, the lek, has risen to 60% of total credit, while euro-denominated loans account for the remaining 40%, a senior central bank official said on Friday.
Erald Themeli, Director of Monetary Policy at the Bank of Albania, said the increase in lek-based lending reflects a significant shift in the structure of financing in the economy.
Speaking on the television show “Sheshi i Dollari”, he attributed the trend in part to growing public awareness of the risks of borrowing in a currency different from that of household income.
“The lek has continued to strengthen during 2025, mainly due to improvements in Albania’s external balances,” Themeli said, noting that the country has recorded a positive balance of payments.
He added that increased demand for loans in the currency in which borrowers earn their income has helped slow the euro’s decline. The Bank of Albania’s increased presence in the foreign exchange market has also contributed to easing pressures, he said.
“The Bank of Albania operates under a free-floating exchange rate regime. Interventions in the foreign exchange market should be viewed as exceptional measures,” Themeli said.
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