Bulgarian banks generated EUR 490 million by March 31, representing a 7.7% increase from the previous year, according to the Bulgarian National Bank. At the end of March, 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 on financial assets not measured at fair value through profit or loss totaled EUR 149 million at the end of March, significantly higher than the EUR 64 million recorded in the same period of 2025.
In the first quarter of 2026, the banking system’s assets totaled EUR 119.5 billion, up by EUR 3.4 billion, or 0.3%. The liquidity coverage ratio stood at 278.6% at the end of March, compared to 280.6% at the end of December 2025. The liquidity buffer was 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).
Total gross loans and advances reached EUR 79.3 billion by the end of March, 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 total gross loan portfolio expanded by EUR 2.6 billion, or 4%, to EUR 67.6 billion.
Loan increases were noted across sectors: non-financial corporations saw a rise of EUR 1 billion, or 3.5%; the general government sector increased by EUR 254 million, or 32.4%; households saw an increase of EUR 1.2 billion, or 4.2%, including EUR 946 million in residential property-secured loans; and other financial corporations increased by EUR 60 million, or 1.2%. As of the end of March 2026, total deposits stood at EUR 99.8 billion, up EUR 2.4 billion, or 2.5%, from the end of February. Household deposits rose by EUR 1 billion, or 1.8%, while credit institution deposits increased by EUR 950 million, or 10.7%.
Government and non-financial corporation deposits rose by EUR 494 million and EUR 330 million, respectively. Conversely, deposits from other financial corporations decreased by EUR 390 million, or 15.5%. Gross non-performing loans and advances reached EUR 2.2 billion at the end of March, an increase of EUR 223 million (11.1%) from the end of December 2025.
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