Bulgarian banks reported earnings of EUR 490 million by March 31, marking a 7.7% increase from the previous year, according to the Bulgarian National Bank. The banking system’s balance-sheet equity reached EUR 15.1 billion, an increase of EUR 82 million, or 0.5%, as of the end of the period compared to the end of December 2025. Impairment charges accrued on financial assets not carried at fair value through profit or loss totaled EUR 149 million at the end of March, up significantly from EUR 64 million in the corresponding period of 2025.
For the first quarter of 2026, the banking system’s assets totaled EUR 119.5 billion, representing 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 reported at 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 measured 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%, reaching EUR 11.7 billion. The overall gross loan portfolio increased by EUR 2.6 billion, or 4%, to EUR 67.6 billion.
Lending to households rose by EUR 1.2 billion, or 4.2%, while loans to the general government sector increased by EUR 254 million, or 32.4%. Total deposits in the banking system reached EUR 99.8 billion at the end of March, up EUR 2.4 billion, or 2.5%, from the end of February. Household deposits increased by EUR 1 billion, or 1.8%, and deposits from credit institutions rose by EUR 950 million, or 10.7%.
Conversely, deposits from other financial corporations saw a decline of EUR 390 million, or 15.5%. Gross non-performing loans and advances at the end of March stood at EUR 2.2 billion, an increase of EUR 223 million (11.1%) from the end of December 2025.
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The 7.7% year-over-year profit increase suggests a stable performance for Bulgarian banks as of March.