Bulgarian banks generated EUR 490 million by March 31, marking a 7.7% increase from the previous year, according to the Bulgarian National Bank on Thursday. At the end of the period, the banking system’s balance-sheet equity reached EUR 15.1 billion, an increase of EUR 82 million, or 0.5%, from the end of December 2025. Impairment charges accrued on financial assets not measured at fair value through profit or loss totaled EUR 149 million at the end of March, up from EUR 64 million in the corresponding period of 2025.
For the first quarter of 2026, the banking system’s assets amounted to EUR 119.5 billion, a rise of EUR 3.4 billion, or 0.3%. The liquidity coverage ratio at the end of March was 278.6%, compared to 280.6% at the end of December 2025. The liquidity buffer stood at EUR 35.9 billion, while net outflows were EUR 12.9 billion (compared to a liquidity buffer of EUR 35.1 billion and net outflows of EUR 12.5 billion as of December 31).
At the end of March, total gross loans and advances were EUR 79.3 billion, an increase of EUR 5.2 billion, or 7% month-on-month. Claims on lending institutions rose by EUR 2.6 billion, or 29.2%, to EUR 11.7 billion. The gross loan portfolio, encompassing non-financial corporations, households, other financial corporations, and the general government sector, grew by EUR 2.6 billion, or 4%, reaching EUR 67.6 billion.
Specifically, loans to non-financial corporations increased by EUR 1 billion, or 3.5%, and to the general government sector rose by EUR 254 million, or 32.4%, reaching EUR 11.7 billion. At the end of March 2026, total deposits in the banking system were EUR 99.8 billion, up EUR 2.4 billion, or 2.5%, from the end of February. Household deposits increased by EUR 1 billion, or 1.8%, while deposits from credit institutions rose by EUR 950 million, or 10.7%.
Deposits from the general government sector increased by EUR 494 million, or 26.7%, and from non-financial corporations by EUR 330 million, or 1.2%. Deposits from other financial corporations decreased by EUR 390 million, or 15.5%. Gross non-performing loans and advances at the end of March were EUR 2.2 billion, an increase of EUR 223 million (11.1%) compared to the end of December 2025.
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According to the Bulgarian National Bank, Bulgarian banks recorded a profit of EUR 490 million through March 31, representing a 7.7% increase compared to the previous year. Furthermore, the banking sy
What factors contributed to the 7.7% year-over-year profit increase for Bulgarian banks?