Bank Melli Iran, the biggest lender, accepted 14,000 marriage loan applications worth 7.4 trillion rials ($43.5 million) during the first two months of current fiscal year (March 20-May 20).
Marriage loans are interest-free loans with 5-year maturity lenders are obliged to grant to newlyweds.
The state-owned lender paid more than 239,000 marriage loans worth 75.05 trillion rials ($450 million) during the last fiscal year that ended in March, indicating 45% rise compared to fiscal 2018-19, the BMI news portal said.
As per current rules, couples can apply for marriage loans up to two years after the pronouncement of their marriage contract.
Lenders have been told to prioritize lending to the new couples over other loans.
Over the years the amount of marriage loans has increased due largely runaway inflation and steep decline in purchasing power.
The 30-million-rial loan five years ago has now grown to 500 million rials ($3,125) per partner in the current fiscal year. It had increased from the previous 150 to 300 million rials ($1,875) per partner in the last fiscal year.
The government and relevant organizations have often voiced concern over the declining marriage rates and are encouraging the youth to marry by offering financial incentives. But this too has failed to convince the youth to tie the knot, and the marriage age keeps rising with fewer young people willing or able to start a family.
In another press release, BMI said it paid 131.81 billion rials ($770,000) in microcredit interest-free loans to 2,684 applicants during the first two months of current fiscal year.
It said the loans were granted to applicants in need of emergency credit for purposes such as medical bills, education funds and home repairs, among others.
In the last fiscal year, the lender paid 2.95 trillion rials ($17.3 million) in interest-free emergency loans.
