Iran banking sector faces 1.1 million person queue for marriage and childbirth loans

Over 1.1 million people are currently waiting in queues for marriage and childbirth loans in Iran, according to data from the General Inspection Organization. Specifically, approximately 614,000 applicants are waiting for marriage loans, while more than 515,000 are awaiting childbirth loans.

The head of the General Inspection Organization criticized the banking sector for failing to fulfill its legal obligations to provide these mandatory facilities. The backlog is attributed to several factors, including insufficient liquidity, high levels of non-performing loans, and bank resources being tied up in non-productive assets such as real estate and company ownership.

In addition to the loan delays, officials highlighted vulnerabilities in the banking network, including recent cyberattacks that have disrupted daily services. There is an urgent call for banks to prioritize supporting the production sector and to ensure that credit is directed toward productive activities to prevent unemployment and business closures.