Executive Summary
Kuwait credit growth is expected to remain in the mid-to-high single digits due to an accomodative monetary policy, which has brought down the weighted average lending rate to 4.61% in September, 2013 from 5.08% a year earlier. According to IMF estimates, the credit growth for Kuwaiti banks is estimated at 8% for 2014, far lower than the historical average of 21.8% that prevailed during 2002-2008 (35% growth witnessed in 2007). The current credit growth rate can degenerate into a "new normal” unless there is a rapid change in economic and investment conditions providing Kuwaiti banks with more lending opportunities.
