MOSCOW, December 25 (RIA Novosti) - Russian banks' assets grew by $137 billion, or 36.7%, to $510 billion in 2006, the finance minister said.

"This is a record figure for absolute growth," Alexei Kudrin told President Vladimir Putin's meeting with the Cabinet.

"Assets grew 37% in 2006," he said. "The banking system's growth rate is higher than in any other country."

The growth in the banks' asset value has made the volume of the household and real sector's lending rise 50% and 25%, respectively, thereby increasing a share of the financial sector in overall investment, the minister said.