Estonian households held €1 billion more in bank deposits in August 2026 than a year earlier, according to Eesti Pank. Banks issued €237 million in new housing loans during the month, €39 million more than in August 2025. The average interest rate on new mortgage-backed housing loans also rose, reaching 4.18%.

Deposits and bank assets grow

Total deposits in Estonian banks reached €34.5 billion in August, up €389 million from July and €1.9 billion from a year earlier. Time deposits held by Estonian households and companies amounted to €7.6 billion, an annual increase of 8%.

Non-resident deposits fell by €157 million over the year and accounted for 15% of all deposits. Banks’ combined balance sheets stood at €49.6 billion, up 6.1%, or €2.9 billion, from August 2025.

Housing lending remains above last year’s level

Banks issued €237 million in housing loans to households in August. That was €29 million less than in July, but €39 million more than a year earlier. The outstanding stock of loans and leases to Estonian households reached €16.3 billion, up 9% year on year.

The average interest rate on new mortgage-backed housing loans was 4.18%, compared with 3.57% in August 2025. This measure covers new loan contracts and excludes renegotiated agreements. Households also took out €28 million in car leases during August, €8 million more than a year earlier.

Corporate borrowing increases

Estonian companies received €365 million in long-term loans and leases in August, €70 million more than a year earlier. The largest annual increases in new lending were recorded in infrastructure and retail, while lending to the primary sector, which includes agriculture, forestry and fishing, declined.

The outstanding stock of corporate loans and leases reached €14.2 billion, up 8% year on year. The average interest rate on new long-term corporate loans was 4.96%, compared with 4.67% a year earlier. Meanwhile, the assets of leasing companies totalled €3.9 billion, down 6.3% over the year.

The figures come from Eesti Pank’s August 2026 statistics on banks and leasing companies.