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.
The preparation of the non-banking financial sector for the introduction of the euro is at a very advanced stage and a significant part of it has already taken concrete measures to adapt to the new currency, the new chairman of the Financial..
The likelihood of Bulgaria joining the eurozone on 1 January 2026 is growing by the day. The country would become the 21st EU member to adopt the single currency. The signals are coming both from the Bulgarian government, which has repeatedly stated..
The Bulgarian National Bank (BNB) has again reduced the key interest rate in the country . As of May 1, it will now be 2.24 percent. The decrease compared to April is 0.15%, when it was 2.39 percent. This is the eighth consecutive month of a decrease in..
The preparation of the non-banking financial sector for the introduction of the euro is at a very advanced stage and a significant part of it has..
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