Politics · Switzerland · 10 hrs ago
Romania offers blood donors higher interest on government bonds
Romania’s Fidelis programme has allowed people in Romania and abroad to buy government bonds through the Bucharest stock exchange since 2020.
The bonds are available in Romanian lei or euros, and the programme has raised more than 71.7 billion lei since it began.
Blood donors in Romania can buy a special bond offering 7.6% interest, one percentage point above the standard rate, with a minimum investment of 500 lei.
The offer is part of a wider trend: countries including Italy, Japan and Brazil are also selling bonds directly to individuals.
Governments are looking for more buyers because their budget deficits remain high while central banks are reducing their bond holdings.
Individual households held 11% of government debt in countries covered by the OECD in 2024, more than twice their share in 2021.
High interest rates can attract savers, but they also reflect risk for investors.
Romania offers blood donors government bonds with an interest rate one percentage point higher than the standard rate, currently 7.6%.
The minimum investment for blood donors has been cut from 5,000 lei to 500 lei.
The bonds are part of Romania’s Fidelis programme, which allows Romanian and foreign investors to buy government debt through the Bucharest Stock Exchange.
The programme has raised more than 71.7 billion lei since its launch in August 2020.
The offer reflects governments’ efforts to attract more individual investors as central banks reduce their bond holdings.
- Who
- Romania’s government offers the bonds to people who donate blood in Romania.
- What
- Blood donors can buy a special tranche of government bonds at a higher interest rate and with a lower minimum investment.
- When
- The Fidelis programme began in August 2020. The article reports the current rate as 7.6%.
- Where
- Romania, through the Bucharest Stock Exchange.
- Why
- The article says governments are seeking more buyers for their bonds as central banks reduce their holdings.
This story does not have two clearly opposing sides.
Romania launched the Fidelis programme.
The programme raised more than 21 billion lei, its highest total in a single year.
Official figures cited in the article show the programme raised more than 9 billion lei.
- Blood donor bond rate
- 7.6%, one percentage point above the standard rate
- Minimum investment for blood donors
- 500 lei, down from 5,000 lei
- Fidelis programme launch
- August 2020
- Total raised since launch
- More than 71.7 billion lei
- 2025 funds raised
- More than 21 billion lei
What people are saying
Governments are making greater efforts to find buyers for their bonds again and are focusing on their own citizens.
Every little bit helps.
Those who have to sell more debt and find fewer large buyers turn to their own citizens as loyal creditors. They buy regularly and rarely sell in a panic.
Sources
Related news
Marianne Meier lives on 1,061 francs a month in social assistance
Esther Friedli rules herself out of race to succeed Guy Parmelin
Hans-Peter Portmann will not seek re-election to National Council in 2027
Aeschi backs at least two candidates for Parmelin’s successor
Landlords may be required to install electric-car charging stations
Swiss referendum committee opposes easing war material law
Former Swiss army chief disputes criticism over F-35 price issue
Zurich plans spending priorities after S&P lowers its outlook
Swiss forecast sees fewer primary pupils and more university students by 2035
SVP lawmaker proposes using federal budget growth to fund army expansion
Switzerland considers auctioning wine import quotas to help local growers
