DUSHANBE, May 26, 2011, Asia-Plus - Deposits for a total amount of 3.6 billion somoni are now kept at banks in Tajikistan, according to the National Bank of Tajikistan (NBT).

The source at Tajik central bank says deposits kept at Tajik banks have risen 11.6 percent over the first four months of this year, “which is evidence of increase in people’s trust in local banks.”

“The volumes of local currency deposits are increasing,” said the source, “Current volumes of the local currency deposits are now 1.45 billion somoni and the foreign currency deposits are estimated at 2.19 billion somoni.”

According to him, legal entities constitute 49.7 percent (totaling 1.81 billion somoni) of depositors and physical entities constitute 50.2 percent (totaling 1.83 billion somoni).

Weighted average interest rate for the local currency deposits is 17.09 percent and weighted average interest rate for the foreign currency deposits is 15.69 percent, the source added.