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“Seeing that many individuals [now] use online banking, there is no need for so many brick-and-mortar bank branches,” the deputy minister said.
8.1.1 Liquidity / assets
Iran’s liquidity expands to IRR18.82 quadrillion in Persian year ending March 2019
The Central Bank of Iran (CBI) has reported on July 8 rial liquidity grew 23.1% to reach IRR18.82 quadrillion (around $447bn) in the previous Persian calendar year (to March 20).
Liquidity continues to grow due to the devaluation of the rial against a basket of other currencies. With prices continuing to creep upwards, the pace of growth is likely to be higher than the CBI’s official statistics.
The share of M2 money stood at in March at IRR2.85bn (more than $67.6bn) “Quasi money” – money sitting in bank savings accounts – stood at IRR15.97 quadrillion (above $379bn) registering a growth of 19.6% y/y.
8.1.2 Loans
CBI pushing for loan-friendly banking
Interest rates on Iranian bank loans were lowered in line with the Rouhani administration’s plan to switch the banking system from savings-based to loan-friendly.
Peyman Ghorbani, CBI Vice Governor for Economic Affairs, said that commercial loans must be set from 18 to 19% from September 2. Loans were locked at 20% and above before the proposal to cut rates.
As it is, the banks are struggling with the current rates forced on them by the CBI as their business plans were previously based on high-interest savings accounts.
The lowering of interest rates was also set to come into direct conflict with the upgraded capital adequacy ratio outlined by the CBI. Banks that did not meet the ratio were at risk of losing their licence, the central bank said.
8.1.3 Deposits
8.1.4 NPLs
Saving rates fall to 15%
Deposit rates on Iranian bank accounts were lowered to 15% with daily short-term interest rates fixed at 10% since last September in accordance with the plan set out by the CBI, Banker.ir reported.
During the past decade, interest rates have historically been above 20% with some credit institutions in Iran offering over 30% for savers. The average loan rate at its highest was 33% in 2009.
CBI gives Iran’s NPL rate as 10%
The Central Bank of Iran (CBI) calculates that Iran’s overall bad debt now stands at 10% of the total debt market in the country, according to a late May Iranian Banker Journal report.
Around IRR1 trillion of bad debt existed in Iran; however other figures suggest the figure of non-performing loans is higher, with banks struggling to retrieve assets due to old-fashioned regulations which mean it takes a very long time to clear debts.
Iran’s overall NPL figure stood at 18%, according to prior CBI statistical releases. The reason behind the supposed improvement in NPL clearance is the Rouhani cabinet's move in February to approve the penalty waiver for loans amounting to IRR1bn.
34 IRAN Country Report March 2020 www.intellinews.com
