DUSHANBE, May 5, 2013, Asia-Plus  -- The National Bank of Tajikistan (NBT) reports that the remainder of loans provided by Tajik banks rose 20 percent in a year to April 1, 2013, reaching 6.1 billion somoni.

In the structure of the remainder, a share of long-term loans was some 35 percent (more than 2.12 billion somoni) while the share of short-term loans was some 65 percent (more than 3.96 billion somoni), a source at Tajik central bank noted.

The weighted average interest rate for loans provided in the national currency was 25.99 percent and the weighted average interest rate for loans provided in foreign currencies was 25.5 percent.

Compared to January-March 2012, the volume of microloans provided by commercial banks over the first three months of this year has increased by 49.9 percent.

Over the report period, local banks have provided 205.2 million somoni in micrloans to entities in remote mountain areas, which was 46.4 percent more than in the same period last year.

Tajik central banks also notes that Tajikistan saw bank deposits grow by 9.6 percent in a year to April 1, 2013, reflecting the expanding economy and rising public confidence in the banking sector.

As of April1, 2013, deposits for a total amount of some 4.9752 billion somoni were reportedly kept at banks in Tajikistan as of April 1, 2013.

Corporate deposits reportedly reached 17697 billion somoni (35.6 percent) and individual deposits reached 3.2055 billion somoni (64.4 percent).

Over the first three months of this year, weighted average interest rate for the local currency deposits has been 15.12 percent and weighted average interest rate for the foreign currency deposits has been 9.88 percent.

The foreign currency deposits have reportedly accounted for more than 50 percent of the total amount of deposits kept at Tajik banks.

Current Tajikistan’s banking system includes 18 financial institutions: Agroinvestbonk; Orienbonk; Amonatbonk (Tajikistan’s savings bank); Tojik Sodirot Bonk (TSB); Bank Eskhata; Sohibkorbonk; The First MicroFinanceBank; Branch of Iran’s Tejarat Bank; Tajikistan Development Bank (TDB);  Fononbonk; Kazkommertzbank-Tajikistan; Kafolatbonk; AccessBank Tajikistan; Kont; Branch of National Bank of Pakistan; Renessans-Capital; Trade Financing.