The bank said lending conditions for companies did not change and were expected to remain the same in the first quarter while demand was seen rising.

A tightening was expected for retail loans after unchanged conditions at the end of last year, the survey of 21 banks with decisive share of the Czech market showed.

The bank raised its main interest rate twice last year to 0.5 percent and further increases are expected this year as the economy grows fast, draining the labour pool and pushing prices up. House prices have also been rising sharply.

Copyright Reuters, 2018