Banks increased savings rates to boost deposits
By Mnaku Mbani
Depositors in banking sector have a reason to smile
following an increase of deposits yields, the August Monthly economic review
published by the central bank of Tanzania (BOT) has said. Interest rates paid
by banks to customers’ deposits increased in July 2016, whereas those charged
on loans and advances decreased somewhat marginally.
This development is attributed to efforts taken by some
banks in mobilising more deposits from the market. The overall time deposit
rate (average interest rate on deposits of various maturity spectrum) rose to
an average of 9.97 percent in July 2016 from 8.18 percent in June 2016.
The overall lending rate was 15.79 percent, slightly down
from 15.99 percent in June 2016. Similar developments were observed in interest
rates on loans of shorter maturities, whereby the one year lending rate eased
to an average of 13.31 percent in July 2016, from 13.67 percent in the
preceding month.
According to the BOT review, the 12-month deposit rate rose
to 12.40 percent in July 2016 from 11.52 percent in June 2016. The spread
between 12-month time deposit rate and one year lending rate narrowed to 0.90
percentage points from 2.16 percentage points in the preceding month.
However, despite the fall of lending rates, the annual
growth of credit to the private sector slowed to 15.2 percent in July 2016 from
23.5 percent in July 2015 .
The decline partly
reflects the cautious approach taken by some commercial banks in providing
credit as part of efforts in addressing the recent increase in non-performing
loans.
The slowdown was recorded in almost all major economic
activities, with a notable deceleration in building and construction,
manufacturing and hotels and restaurant.
Nonetheless, it is worth noting that, the share of personal
loans, loans to trade and manufacturing activities were almost 48 percent of
the total outstanding credit offered in July 2016.
Maoni
Chapisha Maoni