3 February, Minsk /Lyudmila Sats - BELTA/. OJSC "ASB Belarusbank" will reduce the interest rate on previously issued housing construction loans for citizens in need of improved housing conditions from February 15. This was announced today to journalists by the Chairperson of the Bank's Board, Nadezhda Ermakova, BELTA correspondent reports. The rate will be reduced from 17% per annum to 14.5% per annum. In addition, Belarusbank is considering extending the maximum terms of consumer loans from 3 to 5 years. A corresponding decision may be made in the near future. At the same time, Nadezhda Ermakova noted that the share of consumer lending in the total volume of Belarusbank loans has decreased recently, which is primarily due to increased competition among banks in this market segment. The indicators for preferential consumer lending are also low. As for other lending conditions for the population, Belarusbank does not intend to change them. "They are well-established, and we do not see the need to change them," she said. OJSC "ASB Belarusbank" is the largest universal financial and credit institution in the country, offering its clients more than 100 types of banking services and products, including settlement and cash services, lending, deposit operations, leasing, factoring, cash collection, international and interbank settlements, foreign exchange and conversion operations, banking card operations, consulting and depository services. The bank has ratings from such well-known international rating agencies as Fitch Ratings and Moody's Investors Service.-0-

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