Albanians started 2026 with more savings in the bank - Deposits increase by 22.8 billion lek in January, with a strong focus on the local currency
The year 2026 has started with a strong saving signal for Albanians. According to newly published data from the Bank of Albania, total deposits included in broad money reached over 1.5 trillion lek at the end of January.
If we compare it to the end of 2025, we see a net increase of about 22.8 billion lek. This is an interesting development, as January is usually known as a month of high spending after the holidays, but the figures show that liquidity in banks has not only not decreased, but has increased.
Where are Albanians keeping their money? The biggest difference is observed in the local currency. Deposits in lek have experienced a significant increase, increasing by a full 26.6 billion lek within a month. This increase is mainly reflected in current accounts (transferable deposits), where both citizens and businesses have deposited more than in December.
On the other hand, foreign currency deposits have suffered a slight decrease of around 3.7 billion lek. This can be explained by a possible tendency of citizens to convert savings into lek or to spend more from euro accounts during this period.
Who is saving more?
The main pillar of these deposits remains individuals and families (other resident sector). In their lek accounts alone, citizens hold over 277 billion lek. Also, a strong increase is observed in businesses (non-financial corporations), which have significantly increased their balance in bank accounts compared to December.
In summary, January 2026 shows us a consolidation of savings in the national currency and a high stability of the banking system, where Albanians are being cautious by increasing their financial reserves from the first month of the year.
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