The Bank of Portugal released updated January 2026 statistics on bank lending and deposits for households and firms, highlighting continued acceleration in housing lending and a pick-up in household deposit growth. Housing loans increased 10.4% year on year, the strongest annual growth rate since February 2006, while loans to non-financial corporations rose 3.7%. Total lending to households grew 9.8% year on year, the highest rate since February 2008. The stock of housing loans increased by EUR 803 million from December to EUR 111.7 billion, while consumer and other-purpose loans rose by EUR 49 million to EUR 33.8 billion, with annual growth of 7.9%. Corporate loan stocks stood at EUR 74.1 billion, up EUR 7 million on December, with micro and small firms still growing (14.2% and 5.0%) and medium-sized and large firms contracting (-1.8% and -4.9%). Household deposits totalled EUR 200.7 billion, down EUR 61 million on the month as overnight deposits fell and term deposits rose, but increased 4.4% year on year; corporate deposits fell EUR 2.3 billion on the month to EUR 73.3 billion, with annual growth slowing to 7.7%. The next update is scheduled for 26 March 2026.
Bank of Portugal publishes January 2026 banking loans and deposits statistics showing record housing credit growth
The Bank of Portugal's January 2026 statistics reveal a 10.4% year-on-year increase in housing loans, marking the strongest growth since February 2006, and a 9.8% rise in total household lending, the highest since February 2008. Household deposits grew 4.4% year on year to EUR 200.7 billion, despite a monthly decline, while corporate deposits fell EUR 2.3 billion on the month, with annual growth slowing to 7.7%.