The Banking Association of Georgia expects the country’s credit portfolio to expand by 14–15% in 2026, despite persistently high lending rates. According to the Association’s analytical director, Davit Rusia, commercial bank assets saw significant growth in April, though this spike has not yet translated into lending activity.
Rusia says demand for credit remains strong across both retail and business sectors, suggesting that double-digit loan growth will continue. He notes that banks have accumulated additional resources, which are likely to be reflected in May’s lending data.
Small and medium-sized business loans, corporate lending, and retail loans are all expected to maintain momentum, with no major decline anticipated in any segment. Banking sector assets are projected to increase by around 10% overall this year.
As of the end of April, commercial banks had issued GEL 72.89 billion in loans - GEL 144.28 million (0.20%) more than the previous month - representing an annual growth rate of 14.14%.
