The European Central Bank has cut its policy rate from 4.25 per cent in autumn 2008 to 1.25 per cent and the Riksbank has cut the repo rate from 4.75 per cent to 0.5 per cent. A number of other central banks have implemented similar monetary policy easing with the aim of stimulating demand and alleviating the repercussions of the financial crisis on production and employment. In addition to the interest rate cuts, some central banks have implemented what is known as unconventional measures. The purpose has been to secure the supply of credit and to counteract the threats to financial and macroeconomic stability. The central banks have contributed large liquidity injections, that is, lent money to the banks against collateral. Several central banks have also provided emergency liquidity assistance to individual institutions. The Federal Reserve, the European Central Bank and a number of other central banks have also lent money to other central banks through what are known as swap agreements to increase the access to foreign currencies in some other countries. Governments have offered guarantees and capital injections to reduce the risk of further bankruptcies in the domestic banking sector. Another important measure to reinforce confidence in the world economy is the decision at the G20 meeting in London at the beginning of April to increase the IMF’s resources to provide assistance to emerging economies experiencing problems. The measures taken by central banks and governments around the world so far have contributed to reducing the pressure on the interbank markets.
Thus, during 2010, the banking sector credit growth, albeit lower than in the pre-crisis period, was considerable, around 9%, while in some Central and South-Eastern European countries, it was negative. The deceleration of credit growth, which was initially driven by supply-side factors, is mostly a phenomenon attributed to the decline in the demand for loans. As a consequence of weaker expectations for activity development, businesses decreased their production capacity utilization, lowering investment objectives and the demand for loan. In spite of weathering the direct impact of the crisis, important challenges lay ahead of the banking sector and the Bank of Albania. First, the performance of credit quality should be monitored prudentially, aiming to timely identify non-performing loans, assess them correctly according to possibilities of their repayment and pursue proper policies, in order to recover the loan value within an appropriate time. Second, during this phase, it is necessary to strengthen the banks’ internal audit systems, not only related to credit risk but also to provide a higher standard of management. Third, banks should assess their expectations about the performance of their activity and take measures to strengthen their capital position in advance, in case of need. The Bank of Albania deems that in the periods ahead the Albanian banking sector and the economy need to determine and pursue more suitable development policies, which should include: setting realistic development objectives; setting more competitive prices for banking products and services; and increasing lending in the national currency.