Bad loans and problems with their return have been increasing, by registering new figures month after month.

The preliminary data, which were published by the Albanian Association of Banks show that July reached the highest figure of bad loans during the last years.

Data shows that 17.1 percent was the level of problematic loans in the system. The classification of loans, according to the reports from the second-tier banks, showed that during July the system had nearly Lek 530 billion, which also included interest rates.

The same sources inform that 17.1 percent of this sum is classified as problematic to be returned. This includes the loans that have not been postponed, dubious loans and the loans that are classified as totally lost.

By excluding interests, the value of bad loans reaches to nearly Lek 90 billion. Sources close to the banks say that the major part of this sum, but not as a number of loans, belongs to loans taken from businesses.