According to data released by the Bulgarian National Bank, the home purchase loans extended by local lenders zoomed up 80% year-on-year to 4.669 bln levs by the end of July 2007, the quickest growth rate across the banking market segments.

The share of bad housing loans was clocked at 2.1% towards the end of July or 99.5 mln levs. Home purchase loans increased 68% in July 2005-July 2006.

Corporate loans jumped 54.7% year-on-year to 18.41 bln levs over the review period. The share of bad corporate loans was 1.96% or 360.5 mln levs.

Household loans posted a hefty 41.7% increase to 11.352 bln levs. End-July consumer loans were up 21.2% year-on-year to 4.97 bln levs.