tbi bank: Only 1 in 10 Romanians say they have saved enough money

The challenges of 2024 and the uncertain outlook for this year continue to impact Romanians’ purchasing power and their ability to save. Rising prices and expenses exceeding available budgets in more and more households are driving an increasing need for credit, boosting interest in loans for 2025, according to a national survey conducted by tbi bank on a sample of over 1,000 respondents.

Only 11.4 percent of respondents believe they managed to save enough in 2024 to meet their financial needs and expectations. Another 43 percent say they were only able to set aside very small amounts, 32 percent did not save at all, and nearly 14 percent had to dip into their savings, reducing the funds available for unexpected situations.

Meanwhile, nearly 28 percent stated that they took out a loan in 2024 or plan to do so in the near future, while another 24 percent already have ongoing loans.

„The need for financing among Romanians is growing as inflation puts pressure on household budgets, making it harder for them to save as much as they would like. Before taking out a loan, it’s essential for individuals to analyze their income and expenses, assess their existing debt level, and determine their actual financing needs. Based on this, they should consider advantageous solutions, especially when it comes to shopping-related loans, such as BNPL (Buy Now, Pay Later) options, which allow purchases to be paid in interest-free installments”, said Gergana Staykova, Market Lead, tbi bank.

When it comes to the reasons why Romanians would take out a loan, nearly 28 percent say they don’t have enough savings to rely on when needed, while 20 percent state that their expenses exceed their available budget.

Among those who say they need financing, almost one-third are considering a loan for a major purchase, such as a car. Another 27 percent would take out a loan for unexpected expenses, 22 percent for health-related costs, and 20.7 percent to better manage their everyday expenses.

If they were to take out a loan in the near future, about a quarter of respondents are considering an amount exceeding 80,000 RON, 15 percent would opt for a loan between 10,000 and 25,000 RON, while 41 percent would take out a loan for amounts under 10,000 RON. Additionally, over 60 percent say they would choose a personal loan, while just over 14 percent would opt for a mortgage.

Regarding the monthly installment they could afford, 24.3 percent state they could manage payments of over 1,000 RON, while 22.3 percent could only afford a maximum of 300 RON per month. As for the repayment period, nearly 28 percent believe they could repay a loan within 3-5 years, while 25.6 percent estimate they would need more than five years to fully repay it.

The tbi bank survey analyzed how Romanians perceive the state of the economy and was conducted in 2024 at a national level through the iVox platform, based on a sample of 1,003 internet users from Romania. Over 47 percent of the participants are female, and more than 50 percent have a net income exceeding 4,000 RON.