The total volume of non-professional loans granted by Tunisian commercial banks to individuals registered a slight decline at the end of March 2026, according to the latest statistical data from the Central Bank of Tunisia on the structure of the outstanding credit stock.
These loans stood at approximately 30.297 billion dinars at the end of March 2026, compared with 30.530 billion dinars in December 2025, a drop of 233 million dinars.
An annual increase limited to 1.3%
On an annual basis, that is since March 2025, the stock of non-professional loans grew by only 1.3%, a pace regarded as weak compared with previous years, during which the average growth of this type of financing hovered around 11%.
This evolution reflects a marked slowdown in household indebtedness to banks, in a context marked by tighter lending conditions and still high borrowing costs.
Tighter banking conditions
According to specialists, banks are now imposing stricter criteria for granting loans to individuals. In addition, the high cost of bank loans is a major factor in the decline of demand for financing by Tunisian households.
The Central Bank of Tunisia’s policy rate is currently set at 7%, despite a downward revision decided at the end of last year.
The CB Tunisian Board indeed decided, on December 31, 2025, to cut the policy rate by 50 basis points, bringing it to 7% from January 7, 2026. The rates of lending facilities and deposit facilities were adjusted to 8% and 6%, respectively, while the minimum savings remuneration rate was lowered to 6%.
The central bank also reaffirmed its willingness to continue adjusting its monetary policy to preserve economic stability.
Housing loans down by 82 million dinars
According to the figures published by the central bank, loans for the acquisition of housing declined by about 82 million dinars.
They dropped from 13.388 billion dinars in December 2025 to 13.306 billion dinars in March 2026.
Despite this decrease, housing loans continue to represent the largest share of the total bank financing granted to individuals.
Decline in loans for housing improvements
Loans for housing improvements also declined. Their outstanding stock fell from 11.263 billion dinars in December 2025 to 11.152 billion dinars at the end of the first quarter of 2026, a drop of 111 million dinars.
This type of credit often experiences misdirection of use, since some borrowers actually use it to finance consumer expenditures, weddings or car purchases, while the loan dossier includes estimates related to housing renovations.
Auto and university loans also down
Loans intended for the purchase of cars also registered a decline. They fell from 438.5 million dinars in December 2025 to 434.8 million dinars in March 2026, a decrease of 3.7 million dinars.
University loans also decreased by 4.95%, standing at 14.2 million dinars at end-March 2026, compared with about 15 million dinars in December 2025.
Other consumer loans continue their decline
The Central Bank data also show a downward trend in other consumer loans.
Their outstanding stock moved from 5.424 billion dinars in December 2025 to 5.389 billion dinars in March 2026, a decrease of about 35 million dinars.
This evolution confirms the general slowdown in the use of credit by households, in a context where banking prudence, the level of interest rates and the pressure on purchasing power weigh on the borrowing capacity of individuals.
