Businesses are worried about high interest rates on loans
Businesses have a poor opinion of the borrowing environment, as interest rates have risen and the...

Transferring a home loan to another bank could be made simpler and cheaper
Eesti Pank and Finantsinspektsioon have put together a series of proposals that would make it...

Banks were most profitable in the second half of last year
The banks operating in Estonia were very profitable in the fourth quarter of 2023 and also over the...

Eesti Pank is amending the requirements for banks regulating the issuing of new housing loans
In April, Eesti Pank is going to amend the requirements that regulate the calculations made by...

FINANCIAL STABILITY REVIEW. Problem loans will become a slightly greater concern going forward
The level of problem loans in Estonia is currently very low, but the analysis just published by...

The strong profitability of the banks will diminish in future
The banks operating in Estonia were very profitable in the third quarter of 2023 as they earned...

Corporate borrowing increased slightly in the spring and early summer
Corporate borrowing picked up somewhat in the second quarter. New long-term loans were issued to...

The housing loan market is following a more reasonable course
The rising cost of living, higher interest rates and the uncertain outlook for the economy have made...

FINANCIAL STABILITY REVIEW. The slower recovery of the economy could cause the level of bad loans at the banks to rise
The latest financial stability review from Eesti Pank finds that the capacity of companies and...

Depositors win and borrowers lose from the rise in interest rates
Several companies and households have taken a cautionary stance in making decisions about investment...

Eesti Pank has named Coop Pank as a provider of vital services
Eesti Pank has added Coop Pank to the list of providers of vital services. The decision raised to...

Companies and households are adapting to higher interest rates
The steps taken by the central banks of the euro area to calm high inflation have made borrowing...

People are taking a wait-and-see attitude when taking out housing loans
The housing loan market has been very active in the past couple of years, but by December the...

People in Estonia have so far coped well with repaying their housing loans
Housing loans not repaid by their deadline were at a record low level of the past 20 years in...

Eesti Pank is requiring banks to hold larger capital buffers because of the rapid growth in credit
Eesti Pank is raising the countercyclical capital buffer rate for the banks from 1% to 1.5%, as the...

FINANCIAL STABILITY REVIEW. The number of companies facing difficulties with loans is starting to rise a little
The latest financial stability review from Eesti Pank finds that the number of companies having...

Euribor is rising and interest margins are falling
Euribor has risen fast in recent months. The six-month Euribor, which is used as the base for the...

Rapid growth in spending on consumption has slowed the growth in deposits
The growth in deposits has slowed considerably. Households had around 11%, or 1.13...

The rise in real estate prices has increased the size of the average housing loan
Demand from households for housing loans remains large. There were 168 million euros of housing...

The war has so far had a modest impact on the lending market in Estonia
Russia’s invasion of Ukraine caused Estonian companies and households to be somewhat more cautious...

The banks have sufficient buffers to cope with an increase in problem loans
The latest financial stability review from Eesti Pank finds that the capacity of companies and...

The ability of companies and households to borrow is good and is more varied than before
The latest review from Eesti Pank of the Financing of the Economy finds that companies and...

The volume of housing loans issued in December was the largest of recent years
A little over 218 million euros of housing loans were issued in December 2021, and the housing loan...

Eesti Pank is raising its capital buffer requirement for LHV Pank as a systemically important institution
Eesti Pank is raising its other systemically important institution capital buffer requirement for...

The housing market continued to be very active in October
A record 184 million euros was issued in housing loans in October. The number of contracts signed...

House buyers must consider whether they are able to repay their loan when interest rates rise
The latest analysis by Eesti Pank shows that the Estonian financial sector does not currently face...

Banking in Europe must comply fully with globally agreed rules says Eesti Pank
Eesti Pank together with other central banks and financial supervision authorities considers it...

The activity in the housing loan market cooled a little in June
The real estate market stood out for its level of activity in the first half of this year. Strong...

Eesti Pank continues to require caution from two large banks to reduce the risks from housing loans
Eesti Pank has kept in place the requirement that Swedbank and SEB Pank have to apply a risk weight...

The strong growth in bank deposits slowed in May
The bank deposits of households in Estonia increased by 13 million euros in May, which is a notably...

Demand from households for car leases and consumption loans has recovered
The housing loan market remained active in spring and the issuance of car leases and consumption...

Signs of overheating in the real estate market could lead the central bank to review the requirements for issuing housing loans
The latest Financial Stability Review by Eesti Pank notes that there is a lot of activity in the...

Competition pressure has pushed loan interest rates down
The average interest rates on loans issued to businesses and households have fallen over the past...

Bank deposits increased by twice as much as they did before the pandemic
The bank deposits of households in Estonia stood at 9.6 billion euros in February. An average of 112...

The growth in housing loans is being driven by strong demand and improved lending conditions
Raido Kraavik Economist at Eesti Pank The market for...

Rebounding confidence in the summer has led companies to borrow more actively in the autumn
Madis Laas Economist at Eesti Pank The uncertainty...

Eesti Pank has updated the principles for defining banks as systemically important
As part of its macroprudential framework Eesti Pank defines each year which banks are important for...

A strong banking sector will help companies and households cope with the crisis
The Financial Stability Review from Eesti Pank finds that the large capital buffers and good...

The housing loan market has revived rapidly since the coronavirus outbreak in the spring
Raido Kraavik Economist at Eesti Pank The...

Activity is slowly returning to the housing loan market
Raido Kraavik Economist at Eesti Pank The housing...

Corporate and household deposits grew fast during the crisis
Raido Kraavik Economist at Eesti Pank The bank...

Banking sector profits are still solid despite loan provisions
Madis Laas Economist at Eesti Pank The banks...

To take on money-laundering, banks have to invest more in smart solutions
The precept and fine issued by Finantsinspektsioon to SEB Pank on Thursday illustrated the need for...

Businesses remain cautious about making investment decisions
Raido Kraavik Economist at Eesti Pank The coronavirus...

Payment holidays have slowed the pile-up of overdue loans
Raido Kraavik Economist at Eesti Pank Restrictions...

The buffers built up previously will help the banks to cope with larger loan losses
The latest financial stability review from Eesti Pank finds that the banks have sufficient capital...

Smaller demand for car leases showed the loan market is cooling
Raido Kraavik Economist at Eesti Pank The sharp...

Eesti Pank is cutting the capital buffer requirements for the banks by 110 million euros
Eesti Pank is reducing the systemic risk buffer for the commercial banks from 1% to 0%. This will...

The quality of the loan portfolio of the banks was very good before the uncertainty caused by the coronavirus
Raido Kraavik Economist at Eesti Pank Eesti Pank...

The lending market was calmer in January, as is typical for the start of the year
Raido Kraavik Economist at Eesti Pank Although the...

The net profit of the banks fell last year
Raido Kraavik Economist at Eesti Pank The banking...

Companies are borrowing from other sources alongside banks
Taavi Raudsaar Economist at Eesti Pank Corporate debt...

The active market for housing loans indicates high household confidence
Raido Kraavik Economist at Eesti Pank The housing...

Companies are borrowing less from banks than before
Raido Kraavik Economist at Eesti Pank A little less...

The cooling economy may threaten the ability of companies to service their loans
The latest financial stability review from Eesti Pank indicates that risks to the financial sector...

Borrowing has become more expensive
Raido Kraavik Economist at Eesti Pank Borrowing has...

Corporate debt is growing more slowly than the economy is
Jana Kask Economist at Eesti Pank The financial...

Deposits continue to grow fast
Raido Kraavik Economist at Eesti Pank Despite...

Eesti Pank sets a risk weight floor for mortgage loans
From 30 September, Swedbank and SEB Pank will have to apply an average risk weight of at least 15%...

The size of the average housing loan has increased this year
Taavi Raudsaar Economist at Eesti Pank Banking...

Corporate car leases picking up again
Raido Kraavik Economist at Eesti Pank According to...

Growth in corporate equity has slowed
Taavi Raudsaar Economist at Eesti Pank The financial...

Borrowing has become a little more expensive this year
Jana Kask Economist at Eesti Pank The average...

Households were active in borrowing in April
Raido Kraavik Economist at Eesti Pank Borrowing by...

Banks’ net profit fell in the first quarter
Mari Tamm economist at Eesti Pank The stock of...

Banking scandals may make borrowing more expensive
The financial position of the Estonian banking sector is good and the risks to it are small. The...

The growth in corporate and household debt is still slower than the growth in the economy
Taavi Raudsaar Economist at Eesti Pank The...

Borrowing by households is growing at a slightly slower rate
Jana Kask Economist at Eesti Pank Growth in housing...

The resilience of the Estonian financial system to crises is improving
Eesti Pank has added LHV Pank to the list of providers of vital services. A service is vital if an...

The options for funding for companies are good
Timo Kosenko Economist at Eesti Pank The options for...

The market for loans to private clients is showing signs of calming
Kirstin Saluveer Economist at Eesti Pank New loans...

Eesti Pank says that the departure of Danske from Estonia will not significantly affect the Estonian economy
The closing of Danske Bank’s branch after it was prohibited on Tuesday from operating in Estonia for...

Statement regarding Nordic-Baltic financial crisis simulation, January 2019
The Nordic and Baltic financial stability authorities have conducted a joint financial crisis...

The profits of the banks were increased last year by dividends received from subsidiaries
Mari Tamm Economist at Eesti Pank The growth in the...

Corporate equity is no longer growing at the same rate
Taavi Raudsaar Economist at Eesti Pank The growth in...

More housing loans were taken in November than a year earlier
Mari Tamm Economist at Eesti Pank In November, 14%...

Deposits continue to grow faster than loans
Kirstin Saluveer Economist at Eesti Pank New housing...

Weaker relations between the Estonian financial sector and the Nordic countries brings new types of risks
The financial position of the Estonian banking sector is strong. The level of own funds of the banks...

The housing loan market is moderating its speed
Mari Tamm Economist at Eesti Pank Less has been taken...

Companies have started to borrow more
Taavi Raudsaar Economist at Eesti Pank Companies...

The value of car leases taken is up one fifth on a year ago
Mari Tamm Economist at Eesti Pank Demand remains...

Households continued to borrow enthusiastically in July
Mari Tamm Economist at Eesti Pank Demand remained...

Bank profits decreased somewhat in the second quarter
Taavi Raudsaar Economist at Eesti Pank Borrowing...

The moderate growth of corporate debt reflects the modest level of investment
Jana Kask Economist at Eesti Pank Annual growth in...

May was an active month for borrowing
Taavi Raudsaar Economist at Eesti Pank The growth in...

Household borrowing remains large
Kirstin Saluveer Economist at Eesti Pank The...

The profits of the banks were down in the first quarter after a change in the income tax regime
Mari Tamm Economist at Eesti Pank • Real estate...

Corporate debt shrank in 2017 and that of households increased
Taavi Raudsaar Economist at Eesti Pank Corporate...

The central bank requires additional capital buffers from two banks
The risks to financial stability in Estonia are small. Risks are being kept down above all by the...

The closure of Versobank will have very little effect on the Estonian economy
The Estonian banking sector as a whole is stable and strong Deposits at Versobank account for...

The yearly growth in the portfolio of loans and leases to households accelerated to 8% in February
Mari Tamm Economist at Eesti Pank Estonian...

Republic of Estonia: Staff Concluding Statement of the 2018 Article IV Mission
A Concluding Statement describes the preliminary findings of IMF staff at the end of an official...

The borrowing activity of Estonian companies and households remained strong in January
Mari Tamm Economist at Eesti Pank Companies took...

The profits of the banking sector were supported in 2017 by growth in the loan portfolio and by the good quality of it
Mari Tamm Economist at Eesti Pank The borrowing...

Households borrowed more than previously from the banks and less from elsewhere
Taavi Raudsaar Economist at Eesti Pank Higher...

The amount borrowed in November by companies from banks operating in Estonia was the largest seen in recent years
Mari Tamm Economist at Eesti Pank A large part of...

Demand for loans remained strong in October
Mari Tamm Economist at Eesti Pank Growth...

The new regime for income taxation for the banks could pose a threat to financial stability
Overall the risks to financial stability are small. The risks are mitigated by the rising incomes...

The banking sector earned 84 million euros in net profit in the third quartert
Mari Tamm Economist at Eesti Pank Demand from...

Savings continue to grow faster than loans
Taavi Raudsaar Economist at Eesti Pank The growth...

Borrowing by households increased again in August
Mari Tamm Economist at Eesti Pank The growth in...

Household loans are growing at an ever faster rate
Taavi Raudsaar Economist at Eesti Pank The growth...

Growing interest income and good loan quality support the strong profitability of banks
Jana Kask Economist at Eesti Pank Households...

Corporate and household debt has started to increase faster alongside more rapid economic growth
Taavi Raudsaar Economist at Eesti Pank Companies...

Household borrowing growing even more strongly
Mari Tamm Economist at Eesti Pank Corporate loan...

Housing loan portfolio up 6% year-on-year in April
Mari Tamm Economist at Eesti Pank Corporate and...

The profitability of the banks remained at a similar level to last year in the first quarter
Mari Tamm Economist at Eesti Pank The portfolio of...

The debt burdens of the private and government sectors in Estonia did not change last year
Taavi Raudsaar Economist at Eesti Pank Estonian...

Financial stability could be threatened by rising prices and increasing transaction activity in the real estate market
Most of the risks to financial stability in Estonia are low in the near future The ability of...

The growth in housing loans was faster in January at 5.6% than it was a year earlier
Mari Tamm Economist at Eesti Pank The number of...

Low levels of investment activity mean that companies are borrowing less than before
Taavi Raudsaar Economist at Eesti Pank Corporate...

The Nordic and Baltic central banks have signed a Memorandum of Understanding on cooperation to support financial stability
The heads of the Nordic and Baltic central banks signed an agreement last week on the principles for...

Deputy Governor Madis Müller: risks from savings and loan associations members are borne by their members
On Tuesday Eesti Pank’s Deputy Governor Madis Müller said at the cooperative banking...

The risks to the financial sector in Estonia are small in the near future
Faster loan growth could increase the risks to banks from real estate Although corporate...

The share of domestic bank loans in corporate financing increased
Taavi Raudsaar Economist at Eesti Pank Corporate...

The new bank formed from the merger of Nordea and DNB could strengthen competition in retail banking in Estonia
The newly created bank will increase the volume of assets in the Estonian banking sector by...

The portfolio of loans and leases to companies grew by 8% over the year
Jaak Tõrs Head of the Financial Stability Department of Eesti...

The Estonian economy was a net borrower in the first quarter
Jana Kask Deputy Head of the Financial Stability Department of Eesti...

The central bank will require Swedbank and SEB to hold additional buffers from August
From August the commercial banks will have to hold systemic risk buffers of 1% rather than...

Slower growth in real estate prices has reduced the risks to financial stability
The risks to financial stability in Estonia in the near future are small The ability of...

Eesti Pank introduced a capital buffer requirement for banks that responds to the credit cycle
The countercyclical capital buffer will reduce the risks of rapid credit growth at the banks and...

The ability of Estonian companies and households to repay their loans could start to deteriorate
he risks to financial stability in Estonia have increased slightly, though they remain...

Household financial assets are growing faster than debt liabilities
Jana Kask Head of the Financial Stability Department of Eesti...

Eesti Pank specified its macroprudential policy principles
Changes to the Eesti Pank Act came into force on 19 May 2014 giving the central bank a clearer...

The strong financial position of Estonian companies and households supports the quality of the loan portfolio of the banks
The risks to financial stability in Estonia are small, as they were last year. The biggest risk in...

Eesti Pank has set three requirements for issuing housing loans
Three requirements for commercial banks issuing housing loans start to apply from this week. They...

Stable banking is essential to monetary policy
Financial stability means that banking – important banks, savings and loan associations, investment...

Countercyclical capital buffer
The countercyclical capital buffer is intended to protect the banking sector against losses that...

Macroprudential policy tools
The macroprudential tools available to Eesti Pank can be divided into three groups. Moral...

Crisis management
Failures in the financial system may occur unexpectedly and rapidly pass on to other markets and...

Other systemically important institutions buffer
The aim of the other systemically important institutions buffer is to increase the resilience of...

Systemic risk buffer
The aim of the systemic risk buffer is to avoid or minimise systemic risks that could have a serious...

Eesti Pank’s role in safeguarding financial stability
Financial stability means the smooth functioning of financial intermediation under both normal and...

Questions and answers about the asset purchase programmes of the euro area central banks
What is the aim of the programme? The expanded asset purchase programme (APP) is designed to...

Risk weight floor for mortgage loans
Banks that have adopted the Internal Ratings Based (IRB) approach must use a risk weight of at least...

Eesti Pank's priorities among core operations
Participation in decision-making in the Eurosystem and implementation of decisions As a central...

The Structure of the Estonian Financial Sector
The Structure of the Estonian Financial Sector discusses factors that affect the architecture and...

Cooperation
Domestic cooperation Eesti Pank works with the Ministry of Finance and the Estonian Financial...

Macroprudential policy
Macroprudential policy covers systemic risk analysis and assessment, and the deployment of measures...

Financial Stability Department
conducts macro-prudential policy by analysing the functioning of the financial sector,...

Nordic-Baltic partnership
The Estonian financial system is closely related to those of the Nordic and Baltic countries and so...

Single banking supervision in Europe
On 4 November 2014 Europe’s Single Supervisory Mechanism (SSM) for banks started up, and the...

Analysis and assessment of financial stability
Financial stability analysis at Eesti Pank is a two-stage process. Fundamental analysis of the...

Requirements for housing loans
The requirements regulating the issuing of housing loans are intended to strengthen the resilience...

Participation in the ESRB
The European Systemic Risk Board (ESRB) is as an independent body of the European Union responsible...

Financial Stability Review 1/2021
The Eesti Pank Financial Stability Review is released twice a year. The Financial Stability...