ZAGREB, 3 Feb (Hina) – At the end of 2024, households in Croatia held bank deposits worth €39.56 billion, an increase of €1.8 billion or 4.8% from the end of 2023, while their loans totalled €24.3 billion, marking a nearly 12% increase, according to the latest data from the Croatian National Bank (HNB).
Of the total household deposits, €10.83 billion were term deposits, which grew by €685.5 million or 6.7% year-on-year.
By the end of December 2024, total household loans had reached €24.3 billion, up by €2.55 billion or 11.7% compared to the previous year. The largest share of these loans was in housing loans, amounting to €11.88 billion, an increase of €992 million or 9%. Cash loans followed, reaching €9.19 billion, up by €1.18 billion or 15% from the previous year.
At the end of January, the HNB announced new macroprudential measures aimed at slowing down household borrowing, particularly in the segment of cash loans, to mitigate financial risks and preserve financial stability.
Starting 1 April, new lending will be subject to stricter criteria: The debt-to-income ratio (the proportion of monthly debt repayments relative to income) cannot exceed 45% for housing loans and 40% for non-housing loans; the loan-to-value ratio for mortgage loans cannot exceed 90% of the property’s value; and the maximum loan term is capped at 30 years for housing loans and 10 years for non-housing loans.
Credit card loans see fastest growth
The fastest-growing loan segment was credit card loans, which surged by €168 million or 42%, reaching nearly €670 million.
Meanwhile, overdrafts on transaction accounts stood at nearly €720 million, down €54 million compared to the end of 2023.