Data from the central bank show the value of consumer loans issued during the year reached 56 billion lek,  an increase of 18.6% compared with 2024.

Consumer lending includes instalment loans, bank advances and overdrafts to individuals, mainly denominated in the local currency, with about 88% of new loans issued in leks.

Such loans are typically used to finance purchases of electronic devices, household appliances, furniture, vehicles and other consumer goods.

By the end of 2025, the total consumer loan portfolio had reached 107.6 billion lek, central bank said.

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Data from the Bank of Albania show that consumer lending expanded by around 30% year-on-year in the first quarter of 2024, with the value of new consumer loans estimated at around 9.1 billion lek.

According to central bank, the total value of the consumer lending totaled at 72.2 billion lek in the end of March, recording an annual increase by 17%.

Growth in consumer loan is one of the factors supporting consumption expansion along with growth of tourism industry and improved labour market,  supported by upward trend of the economy and relatively low interest rates compared to other economies.

Central bank expects the demand for lending to further increase in the second quarter of the year to support consumption and housing purchase.

Bank lending to the economy shows an upward trend in the first half of this year, with the value of new loan disbursed in the first three months estimated at 82.8 billion lek, up by 29.8% compared to the same period of the previous year.

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