(see related)
(ANSA) Rome, June 17 - Italy's Abi Bankers' Association
defended its members' record Tuesday on providing credit for
firms after Premier Matteo Renzi lambasted banks for denying
capital to recession-hit entrepreneurs.
"In the first four months (of 2014) the banks increased
mortgages by more than 26% and are making very significant
capital increases that are not just to pass the examinations of
the European Central Bank but also to increase capacity for
further new loans," Abi President Antonio Patuelli said.
"Just today Abi is issuing its new monthly report from
which one sees that in the first four months banks increased
mortgages by more than 26%," he added.
Patuelli also underlined that "interest rates in these
first months of the year are the lowest since 2011 and reach
almost the historical record of limited level".
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