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. The banking system’s balance-sheet equity reached EUR 15.1 billion, an increase of EUR 82 million, or 0.5%, compared to 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 same period of 2025.
For the first quarter of 2026, the banking system’s assets amounted to EUR 119.5 billion, an increase 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 with a liquidity buffer of EUR 35.1 billion and net outflows of EUR 12.5 billion as of December 31).
As of the end of March, total gross loans and advances reached EUR 79.3 billion, a month-on-month rise of EUR 5.2 billion, or 7%. Claims on lending institutions increased by EUR 2.6 billion, or 29.2%, reaching EUR 11.7 billion. The overall gross loan portfolio expanded by EUR 2.6 billion, or 4%, to EUR 67.6 billion.
Loan increases were noted for non-financial corporations by EUR 1 billion, or 3.5%, for the general government sector by EUR 254 million, or 32.4%, and for households by EUR 1.2 billion, or 4.2%, including EUR 946 million secured by residential property. Total deposits in the banking system at the end of March 2026 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%, and deposits from credit institutions rose by EUR 950 million, or 10.7%.
Government and non-financial corporation deposits increased by EUR 494 million and EUR 330 million, respectively. 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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