▲ This Oct. 15, 2025, file photo shows customers at a bank branch in Seoul. (Yonhap)

household loans-April tally

Banks' household loan growth picks up in April on mortgage lending

SEOUL, May 17 (Yonhap) -- Household loans extended by banks rose for the second consecutive month in April despite tight regulations, as mortgage loans picked up, data showed Sunday.

Outstanding household loans by banks grew 2.2 trillion won (US$1.46 billion) last month, accelerating from the previous month's 0.5 trillion-won rise, according to the data from the Financial Supervisory Service (FSS).

The rise in household loans by banks was mainly attributed to a gain in mortgage loans, which increased 1.3 trillion won on-month in April following a decline of 1.5 trillion won the previous month.

Loans extended to households by all financial institutions, including savings banks and insurance firms, rose 3.5 trillion won from a month earlier in April, on par with the previous month's 3.5 trillion-won gain.

All financial institutions' home-backed loans increased 5.5 trillion won last month, also accelerating from a 3 trillion-won increase in March, the FSS said.

The advance in banks' household loans came as the government has maintained tighter loan and home purchase regulations since last year in response to surging housing prices in Seoul and parts of the greater metropolitan area.

The financial authorities said household loans have remained at a manageable level so far this year, but remained vigilant against a sharp rise in such loans.

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