Albanians' demand for loans "boils" - EIB Report: Financial market active. But banks temporarily "hold back" on housing loans
The financial market in Albania is going through a dynamic phase, where the desire of citizens and businesses to invest remains at record levels.
According to the latest report by the European Investment Bank for the end of 2025, the demand for credit has increased beyond the expectations of bankers themselves. This momentum is mainly driven by families looking to buy a house and by individuals seeking consumer credit to increase their standard of living. What is striking is that the "euro era" in credit is fading. Albanians are massively choosing the local currency, the Lek, thus protecting themselves from exchange rate risks.
But while demand is surging, the situation on the other side of the counter is more measured. For the first time after a period of easing, banks have begun to tighten their criteria. Obtaining a salary certificate or collateral is no longer enough as it used to be. This tightening is happening mainly in home loans and large business financing.
The factors are related to new supervisory regulations and a slight uncertainty coming from international markets. However, this "retardation" is not expected to be long-term. Experts predict that in early 2026, banks will find a new balance, returning to a more neutral and supportive position.
One of the most positive news coming from this report is the improvement in credit quality. Even though we live in a time of economic challenges, the ratio of non-performing loans has decreased. This shows that Albanian families and businesses have shown themselves to be responsible and correct in repaying their installments.
This stability has increased the confidence of parent banking groups in Europe, which see Albania as a market with high potential. However, a slight warning comes for the coming months, banks expect a slight increase in payment difficulties, which requires increased caution on the part of borrowers.
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