The ministry said the rate freeze had saved over 50,000 SMEs, with close to HUF 1.5 trillion in loans of around HUF 150 billion. It added that the benchmark three-month Budapest Interbank Offered Rate (Bubor) had stood over 16.5% when the measure was rolled out.

The ministry noted that lenders had voluntarily agreed to temporarily reduce their spreads on corporate credit over the Bubor to 0% from Feb. 1 for three months.

The three-month Bubor stood at 8.07% on Wednesday.