Since the start of the full-scale war, almost UAH 43.4 billion from the special account opened by the National Bank of Ukraine has been allocated for defense needs, including UAH 5.4 billion in January. As of February 1, the balance in the special account, which the National Bank opened to support the defense forces on…
Ukraine’s banking system has successfully completed the second stage of transition to a new three-tier capital structure in line with EU requirements. As of January 1, banks’ capital was sufficient to cover all key risks. This was reported by the National Bank. “Ukraine’s banking system has successfully completed the second stage of transition to a…
Several banks in Bulgaria have recently announced changes to their fees, particularly for cash withdrawals and deposits. These adjustments, which were communicated to customers in advance through their websites and notifications, would take effect on various dates. Customers have been informed at least two months ahead of time, as required by law, about the upcoming…
Bulgaria’s banking sector is bracing for an increase in non-performing loans (NPLs), as the cost of covering potential bad debts has nearly doubled in 2024. According to the Bulgarian National Bank (BNB), the provisions for impairment of financial assets reached 578 million leva as of the end of November 2024, a significant rise compared to…
Bulgaria’s banking system is on track to surpass three billion leva in profits again this year, following the record-breaking 3.4-billion leva reported in 2023. According to the Bulgarian National Bank (BNB), commercial banks in the country had already posted a total profit of 3 billion leva as of the end of October. However, the growth…
Banks in Bulgaria have reported a tightening of credit conditions for both businesses and households, primarily driven by increased interest rates. This tightening has been particularly evident in consumer loans, according to the Bulgarian National Bank’s (BNB) Economic Review for the third quarter of 2024. Despite the stricter conditions, banks have slightly relaxed the maximum…
The war remains the key risk for the banking system, but the lack of qualified personnel has become another additional risk. First Deputy Governor of the National Bank of Ukraine (NBU) Kateryna Rozhkova said this during the presentation of the Financial Stability Report. “The war remains the key risk for banks. Another additional risk that…