Liquidity on accounts currents of Italians returns to grow, with an increase of almost 20 billion euro in one year. After two years of consecutive decline, in 2024 the overall balance of families and companies recorded an increase, reaching 1,363.6 billion euros, with a growth of 19.8 billion compared to 1,343.8 billion in 2023 (+1.5%).
The drop from 2021 to 2023
This figure marks a turnaround compared to the previous two years, when the erosion of liquid savings had been influenced by the surge of inflation and the increase in the cost of living.
Between 2021 and 2023, families and businesses have gradually affected their reserves to cope with the price increase, reducing the liquidity available on bank deposits of 136.3 billion euros (-9.2%) compared to the peak of 1,480.1 billion recorded in 2021. Despite the resumption of the last year, the current levels remain lower than those of 2021, with a still significant gap of 116.5 billion (-7.9%). This trend highlights a phase of reconstitution of savings, favored by less inflationary pressure but influenced by still high interest rates, factors that affect the financial choices of families and businesses.
Sileoni: “positive signal, but banks must remunerate the deposits more”
“The increase in liquidity On current accounts it is a positive sign, which confirms how families are gradually re -establishing their savings after two difficult years marked by inflation and increase in the cost of living “, comments the secretary general of Fabi, Lando Maria Sileoni. According to data, there is greater financial stability and a newfound accumulation capacity emerges, fundamental elements to support consumption and economic growth.
But the node of deposit rates remains, still too low and with the liquidity that remains parked without a real economic enhancement. “Customers must be recognized more equitable remunerationaligned with the trend of interest rates, to avoid an excessive penalty of savers. Without a different attitude, the banks put at risk that relationship of trust that is the basis of the sector “, concludes Sileoni.
Mortgages climb but the funding fall
The cut of interest rates decided by the ECB raises the mortgage market: in the last seven months of 2024, loans for the purchase of homes have increased 5.3 billion euros (+1.3%), going from 420.8 billion to May to 426.1 billion in December. The second half of the year therefore marks a turnaround in bank credit for the home, after in the first five months of 2024 the stock of funding had decreased by almost 4 billion (-0.9%).
This recovery coincides with the change of pace of monetary policy, with the ECB that gradually lowered the cost of money, setting it to 2.75% in January. Families benefit from greater access to credit, not only for the purchase of properties, but also for consumer credit, which has grown over 3 billion (+2.6%), from 123 to 126.1 billion. On the other hand, personal loans, dropped by 4.1% (from 120.5 to 115.6 billion).
For businessesthe picture is less positive: if the short-term credit increased by 4.45 billion (+3.2%) and the medium-term one by 2.1 billion (+1.4%), long-term funding have undergone a net cut of 20.4 billion (-6.5%), going from 313.9 billion to 293.4 billion. Overall, the stock of loans to companies has reduced 13.6 billion (-2.2%), reaching 598.9 billion.
