Norway considers further curbs on consumer lending

Morrow Bank ASA

14/01/2018 20:19

OSLO, Jan 14 (Reuters) - Norway's centre-right government 
could further restrict banks' lending to consumers and impose 
limits on interest rates in a bid to curb rapid increases in 
unsecured debt, it said in a policy document on Sunday. 
    Borrowing for purposes other than mortgages has risen 
sharply in recent years, resulting in a booming business for 
specialist lenders such as Bank Norwegian  NOFI.OL  and Komplett 
Bank  KOMPBK.OL , while also worrying regulators. 
    Conservative Prime Minister Erna Solberg on Sunday agreed to 
include the centrist Liberal Party in her cabinet and presented 
a wide-ranging policy platform for the next several years. 
 urn:newsml:reuters.com:*:nL8N1P90MH 
    "The government will consider additional tightening of 
consumer lending," the Conservatives, Liberals and the Progress 
Party said in a joint statement. 
    "It will also consider whether to impose an upper limit on 
interest rates for unsecured consumer loans," they added. 
 
 (Reporting by Terje Solsvik, editing by David Evans) 
 ((terje.solsvik@thomsonreuters.com; +47 918 666 70; Reuters 
Messaging: terje.solsvik.thomsonreuters.com@reuters.net)) 
 
Keywords: NORWAY GOVERNMENT/BANKING