BSP’s special deposits inch closer to P2T mark

The cash circulating in the country’s financial system may continue to swell as the funds parked with the Bangko Sentral ng Pilipinas’ special deposit accounts (SDAs) inch closer to P2 trillion to mark a new historic high.

The amount deposited in SDAs continues to rise despite the move of the central bank to cut the interest rate in January.

Data from the BSP showed that, as of March 8, idle funds placed by banks in the SDA facility stood at P1.93 trillion.

The amount is the highest on record.

On Jan. 24, the Monetary Board of the BSP decided to cut the interest rate on SDAs to a uniform 3 percent. Previously, the rates were set above 3.5 percent at varying margins depending on maturity.

According to the BSP, the rate cut was meant to encourage banks to withdraw some of their funds for lending. Private-sector economists believe that the banking sector can further help the economy by shifting some of their money from SDAs to boost their lending activities, especially in support of businesses embarking on job-generating investments.