MINSK, 15 January (BelTA) - The National Bank of Belarus expects consumer lending to grow by approximately 9% in 2026, First Deputy Chairman of the central bank’s Board Aleksandr Yegorov told the media on 15 January, BelTA has learned.
“For consumer lending trends, our internal projection is that overall lending to individuals will exceed 9%. But we haven’t given banks specific targets yet, as our greater priority is increasing the proportion of loans for domestically made products,” Aleksandr Yegorov said in response to a question about the National Bank’s 2026 outlook for consumer lending.
He noted that banks will need to master the art of balancing in order to fulfill both the objectives set by the main monetary policy guidelines - investment lending and the share of loans to domestic producers - and to expand other types of lending.
Regarding plans for investment financing, the goal for 2026 is to increase the volume of investment loans issued by at least 13% compared to the results of 2025. Aleksandr Yegorov noted that significant work was done last year to collect statistics. “Previously, statistics on investment lending were not maintained at the bank level. Firstly, we have learned how to collect this data; and we now track it. Now we can qualitatively monitor this indicator in terms of supporting the economy,” said the first deputy chairman of the National Bank’s Board.
Aleksandr Yegorov also spoke about the wide range of financial instruments available to the public, including loans, leasing, and microfinancing. Belarusians can utilize, in particular, consumer loans, auto loans, and real estate loans. “Speaking in overall absolute figures, compared to other countries with a GDP per capita comparable to ours, our volume of loans per citizen is relatively small,” he observed.
A seminar-meeting of the House of Representatives focusing on the legal regulation, enforcement practice, and development prospects of public financial instruments, including consumer loans, microloans, and leasing, was held in the House of Representatives to study in detail the financial instruments used in the country.
Attending the seminar were the leadership of the National Bank, heads of banks, the director of the Belarusian Association of Lessors, directors of leasing, banking, and microfinance organizations, as well as representatives from the Finance Ministry, the National Bank, the Ministry of Antimonopoly Regulation and Trade, the State Control Committee, and others.
In September 2025, at a meeting with the National Bank’s administration and senior bankers, the president set out the key priorities and development directions for the financial and banking system. In November 2025, parliament passed the draft law on Leasing Activity in its first reading. The bill establishes a comprehensive framework for regulating leasing. It is currently being prepared for its second reading.
Prior to the event, an exhibition dedicated to the 30th anniversary of Belarus’ commemorative coin was on display in the foyer of the Oval Hall.
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