The stock of non-professional bank credit extended to individuals in Tunisia rose slightly during the first half of 2026, reaching 30.662 billion TND at end-June, compared with 30.554 billion TND in December 2025.
The increase thus stands at about 108 million TND, according to the data published in the Tunisian Central Bank (BCT) Financial Statistics Bulletin, July 2026.
Behind this near-stability of the overall outstanding balance, however, lie contrasting evolutions: loans for housing improvement, for motor vehicles and for consumption are rising, while housing loans and university loans decline.
The essentials
- The total stock of non-professional credits to individuals reaches 30.662 billion TND at end-June 2026.
- The six-month increase is about 108 million TND, i.e. 0.35%.
- Housing credits decline by about 103 million TND.
- Other consumer credits rise by about 125 million TND.
- The increase in value is well below the 276 million TND recorded between December 2024 and June 2025.
Housing improvement loans rise
The outstanding amount of loans destined for housing improvement rose from nearly 11.267 billion TND in December 2025 to about 11.348 billion TND in June 2026.
According to the detailed data, the increase amounts to about 80.5 million TND.
A limited rise in auto loans
Loans destined for the purchase of vehicles also advanced, moving from 438.6 million TND in December 2025 to 446.1 million TND in June 2026.
The rise stands at about 7.4 million TND according to the published data.
Other consumer loans gain 125 million TND
The growth is more pronounced for other loans intended for consumption. Their outstanding stock rose from 5.425 billion TND in December 2025 to 5.550 billion TND in June 2026.
This represents an increase of about 125 million TND, i.e. nearly 2.3%.
Housing loans decline by 103 million TND
Conversely, loans directly aimed at housing recorded a decline during the first six months of 2026.
Their stock fell from 13.407 billion TND in December 2025 to 13.304 billion TND in June 2026, a drop of about 103 million TND.
University loans also decreased, moving from about 15 million TND to 13.8 million TND, a contraction of nearly 1.2 million TND.
How have the different credit categories evolved?
| Category | December 2025 | June 2026 | Variation |
|---|---|---|---|
| Housing improvement | 11.267 B TND | 11.348 B TND | +80.5 M TND |
| Vehicle purchases | 438.6 M TND | 446.1 M TND | +7.4 M TND |
| Other consumer credits | 5.425 B TND | 5.550 B TND | +125 M TND |
| Housing credits | 13.407 B TND | 13.304 B TND | -103 M TND |
| University credits | About 15 M TND | 13.8 M TND | -1.2 M TND |
| Total | 30.554 B TND | 30.662 B TND | +108 M TND |
Note : some balances are presented in rounded form. The differences calculated directly from the amounts shown may therefore differ slightly from the detailed variations appearing in the original data.
108 million TND versus 276 million a year earlier
Compared with the previous period, the rise in value shows a slowdown in the pace of growth.
Between December 2024 and June 2025, the stock of non-professional bank credits extended to individuals had risen by about 276 million TND, versus only 108 million TND between December 2025 and June 2026.
TN Calculation:
the increase recorded in the first half of 2026 is 168 million TND lower than that observed during the corresponding prior period. In absolute terms, the rise is thus lower by about 60.9%.
This comparison concerns the amount of the increase and not directly the growth rate of the balance. A rigorous comparison of rates would indeed require relating each variation to the balance level at the start of the respective period.
Overall growth limited to 0.35%
Based on a total balance of 30.554 billion TND in December 2025 and 30.662 billion TND in June 2026, the increase recorded over the first half of the year is about 0.35%.
This rate confirms the modest overall growth of non-professional bank financing extended to individuals during the first six months of 2026, despite substantial differences across credit categories.
The decline in the policy rate did not accompany a strong acceleration in credit
The Central Bank of Tunisia had lowered its policy rate from 7.5% to 7% starting on January 7, 2026, a reduction of 50 basis points.
The average money market rate also remained around 7% until August 2026, while the inflation rate stood at 5.4% in the same month.
In theory, a cut in the policy rate can help loosen financing conditions by affecting the cost of bank resources and, depending on contractual terms, the cost of certain loans, especially those with variable rates.
Chiffres arrêtés à fin juin 2026 montrent toutefois que this environment was not accompanied, during the first half, by a strong expansion in the overall stock of non-professional loans to individuals, whose growth was limited to about 0.35% relative to December 2025.
What the figures allow us to conclude
The Central Bank data primarily show a relative stability of non-professional household indebtedness, accompanied by a shift in the structure of credits.
Financing for housing improvement, consumption and vehicle purchases is rising, while housing credits and university loans are decreasing.
However, these data do not on their own attribute the modest credit growth to a deterioration in Tunisians’ borrowing capacity or to a single factor. The evolution of credit uptake also depends on income levels, banks’ lending conditions, the rates actually charged, households’ repayment capacity, the demand for financing, and the risk policies of banking institutions.
Source : Financial Statistics Bulletin of the Central Bank of Tunisia, July 2026.
