The Bulgarian National Bank has lowered the base interest rate for the second consecutive month. As of August 1, it stands at 3.53%, down from 3.63% in July. Since the end of 2023, the base interest rate has been gradually falling. From February 2016 to September 2022, the base interest rate was 0.00%. On October 1, 2022, the rate went up to 0.49%.
As of June 30, the net profit of the banking system for 2024 was EUR 0.9 billion, representing a 7.1% increase compared to the first six months of 2023, according to BNB statistics. Over a quarter of the income comes from fees and commissions. Banks earned EUR 1.6 billion from interest on loans in the first half of the year and paid out EUR 290 million in interest on deposits. Bank assets increased by over EUR 1 billion or 1.2% in the first half of 2024. Losses have risen by EUR 46 million to EUR 139 million, representing a 50.1% increase compared to the first six months of 2023.
In 2025, the National Health Insurance Fund will be able to spend 1.2 billion leva (EUR 613 million) more on insured individuals, the draft budget of its Supervisory Board envisages. The health insurance contribution remains 8% of the insurable..
Bulgaria will meet the final criterion of price stability for entry into the eurozone by January. After that, politicians are in charge, Bulgarian National Bank Governor Dimitar Radev has told BNT. "Politicians must try to get the..
The Bulgarian banking system is among the most stable ones thanks to the high expertise of the people who work in it. They succeed despite turbulent times. They are successful because they follow the rules and laws. With these words,..
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