Italian bank lending grows 3.7% in September

According to the latest report from the Associazione Bancaria Italiana (ABI), bank lending to households and businesses in Italy accelerated to a 3.7% annual increase in September 2026, up from 3.5% in August.

The data indicates a sustained upward trend in credit availability. Loans to households have seen consecutive monthly growth for 21 months, while loans to businesses have increased for 15 consecutive months. This expansionary cycle originally began in March 2025.

While the overall growth rate rose to 3.7%, previous data from August showed a breakdown of 4.2% for business loans and 2.9% for household loans. The continuous growth suggests that credit demand remains steady and that banks are actively responding to requests for mortgages, personal loans, and business investment financing.