Bahrain's 2009 retail bank loans hit $15.6bn

08 April 2010

Total deposits stood at $21.2bn in 2009

Bahrain’s retail banks’ outstanding loans and credit facilities stood at BD5.885bn ($15.6bn) at the end of 2009, a 0.05 per cent decline compared to the BD5.887bn at the end of 2008, according to the Central Bank of Bahrain’s (CBB) Annual Report for 2009.

The business sector accounted for 64.9 per cent of total loans and credit facilities, while individuals and the government sector represented 28.5 per cent and 6.7 per cent respectively.

Retail banks’ total domestic deposits increased to BD8bn at the end of last year compared to BD7.6bn at the end of 2008, an increase of BD400m or 5.3 per cent.

This was due to higher private sector deposits, which increased by BD400m (6.6 per cent) and general government deposits, which increased by BD10m (0.5 per cent), says the report.

Domestic deposits in Bahraini dinars increased by BD1bn (19.8 per cent) to BD5.9bn at the end of 2009.

Domestic foreign currency deposits fell by 21.1 per cent or BD600m to BD2.1bn. Bahraini dinar deposits and foreign currency deposits constituted 63.8 per cent and 36.2 per cent of total deposits respectively, it said.

Total domestic assets fell by BD200m (1.8 per cent) to reach BD10.9bn, with claims on banks declining by BD700m (25.7per cent) and claims on private non-banks shrinking by BD50m (0.7per cent).

Foreign assets recorded a decrease of BD1.1bn (8.7per cent), reaching a total of BD11.6bn at the end of last year compared to BD12.7bn at the end of 2008.

The consolidated balance sheet of retail banks declined by 5.9 per cent to BD22.5bn at the end of last year, compared to BD23.9bn at the end of 2008.

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