TIRANA, Aug. 14 /ATA/ – Albanian banks eased lending terms in the second quarter of 2026, with interest rates declining across several key segments, while consumer loans and euro-denominated mortgages for households followed a different trend.
Data from the Bank of Albania showed that the average interest rate on new lek-denominated loans fell to 6.3% in the second quarter, from 6.5% in the first three months of the year.
For small businesses, loans of up to 35 million leks were offered at an average interest rate of 7.1%, down from 7.8% in the first quarter.
The lower cost of borrowing was also reflected in financing for larger businesses, creating more favourable conditions for companies seeking credit to support their operations.
For households, the average interest rate on new lek loans declined to 3.8%, from 3.9%. Consumer loans, however, bucked the trend, with the average rate rising to 8.7% from 8.4% in the previous quarter.
A different trend was also seen in euro-denominated lending. The average rate for businesses fell to around 6%, while euro-denominated mortgages for households became more expensive, with the average rate rising to 5.2% from 4.9%.
For businesses, lower interest rates could create greater scope for investment and expansion, while for households, the choice of loan product and currency remains an important factor in determining borrowing costs.
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