PRAGUE (ČIA) - According to Fincentrum, mortgage banks in the Czech Republic extended 7,293 mortgage loans worth CZK 12.847 bln in December of last year. The figure reached 6,712 loans worth CZK 11.566 bln in November. According to the company, it was the highest sum recorded last year. The Fincentrum Hypoindex reached an average of 3.56% in December. It has been the lowest rate since 2003. According to Josef Rajdl, the leading analyst with Fincentrum, the rates showed the record-breaking level even despite some banks started to raise their prices slightly in December.