Thus, savings declined by 3% or by 4.9 billion kuna compared to the corresponding period in 2016, and analysts ascribe it to low passive interest rates and the introduction of taxes on savings deposits' interest.
Foreign currency-indexed time deposits make up the largest share in the savings, accounting for 85% or 135.5 billion kuna deposited with the banks. The kuna-tied time deposits rose to reach HRK 24.46 billion kuna at the end of August 2017.
Over the last 25 years, the annual average growth rate in saving in Croatia was 16.9%, according to figures provided by the Croatian Banking Association (HUB).
The average Croat saves 63 euros a month for rainy days, according to a survey conducted by IMAS pollster for the Erste Group in 2016.
Thus, Croatia is in the middle of the rankings covering central and east European countries.. The Austrians top the rankings with EUR 239 saved per month. The average Slovak saves 106 euro per month, and the Czechs follow (88 euros saved per person per month). Those with poorer performance than the Croats are, for instance, the Hungarians (EUR 53), the Romanians (EUR 53) and the Serbs (EUR 37).
(EUR 1 = HRK 7.5)