Podcast in English
Text size
Bulgarian National Radio © 2025 All Rights Reserved

Bulgarian National Bank to restrict mortgage loans as of 2021

Bulgarian National Bank
Photo: Ani Petrova, BNR

The Bulgarian National Bank has taken a decision to restrict mortgage lending. The Board of Directors has decided to increase the capital buffer for banks' risk loans from 0.5% to 1% from 2021. The measure aims to ensure that vaults have sufficient reserves to cover losses on non-performing loans. As a rule, the buffer is increased when it is necessary to "cool" a large increase in credit. 

For the first 7 months of the year, new loans in the country increased by over 7% compared to 2020, and housing mortgages by over 15%. 
The BNB believes that this is dangerous as the concerns are about the accumulation of risks, which may appear in the increase in the volume of non-performing housing loans in the future.



Последвайте ни и в Google News Showcase, за да научите най-важното от деня!
Listen to the daily news from Bulgaria presented in "Bulgaria Today" podcast, available in Spotify.

More from category

Bulgarian processors import rapeseed from Canada due to a shortage of raw materials

One of the largest cargo ships in the world docked for the first time at the Port of Varna, delivering 58,000 tons of rapeseed, BGNES reported. The shipment arrived from Canada and will be refined in Bulgaria. The delivery was made due to a..

published on 4/12/25 4:04 PM

Fitch affirms Bulgaria's rating at BBB; Outlook Positive

Fitch Ratings has affirmed Bulgaria's Long-Term Foreign-Currency Issuer Default Rating (IDR) at 'BBB' with a Positive Outlook, reported BTA. ''Bulgaria's ratings are supported by its strong external and public finance balance sheets versus..

published on 4/12/25 9:36 AM

Minister Petar Dilov: VMZ-Sopot will not be privatized

There are no plans for the privatization of the Vazovski Machine-Building Plants (VMZ) in Sopot, and the information circulating in this regard is speculative, said Bulgaria’s Minister of Economy and Industry Petar Dilov at a working meeting..

published on 4/8/25 12:04 PM