Bank lending to accelerate in Q4: Mandiri

Bank lending will likely accelerate in this year’s last quarter as businesses become more confident in the economic and political, Bank Mandiri chief economist Mirza Adityaswara said Thursday.

"The private sector in the first semester stopped [expanding], waiting for [the result of] the elections. I think the pattern will be similar to 2006, where lending will start to increase in the third quarter and accelerate significantly in the fourth quarter," he said.

He added working capital loans would increase first, followed by investment loans and consumer loans.

Bank lending is estimated to rise between 12 and 15 percent this year, down from about 30 percent in 2008.

From December last year to June 2009, lending rose very little, as businesses took a "wait and see" approach due to the global economic and domestic political situation, said Mirza.