BNB Allows Relaxation in Loan Payments Amid COVID-19 Outbreak
The Governing Council of BNB approved the procedure for deferral and settlement of liabilities payable to banks and their subsidiaries in the backdrop of COVID-19 pandemic. The document on the procedure for deferral and settlement of liabilities constitutes a private moratorium within the meaning of the EBA guidelines on legislative and non-legislative moratoria on loan repayments applied in the light of the COVID-19 crisis. On April 03, 2020, the Governing Council of BNB had issued a statement on its decision to comply with the EBA guidelines.
Commercial banks that have accepted to implement the approved procedures for deferral and settlement of payable liabilities will publicly announce the proposed concessions on their websites, the banks’ public premises, and in any other appropriate manner. The approved private moratorium provides opportunities for changes in the principal and/or interest payment schedule of liabilities, without changing any key parameters of the loan agreement such as the already agreed interest. Liabilities may be deferred for a term of up to six months, ending on December 31, 2020. The deferred liabilities must have been regularly serviced or not more than 90 days past due as of March 01, 2020.
Customers should declare explicitly to their servicing bank that they wish to avail of the proposed concessions. Banks may also agree with their customers different individual deferral and concession schemes, other than the ones provided under this procedure. In such cases, banks may not avail of the temporary principle, implemented by the approved moratorium and following the EBA guidelines, that the deferral or concession does not result in classification of exposures in default or forbearance.
Related Links
Keywords: Europe, Bulgaria, Banking, COVID-19, Loan Moratorium, Credit Risk, EBA, BNB
Featured Experts

Victor Calanog, Ph.D.
Leading economist; commercial real estate; performance forecasting, econometric infrastructure; data modeling; credit risk modeling; portfolio assessment; custom commercial real estate analysis; thought leader.
Related Articles
EU Agencies Update LCR Rule and Macro-Prudential Policy Recommendation
The European Commission (EC) published the Delegated Regulation 2022/786 with regard to the liquidity coverage requirements for credit institutions under the Capital Requirements Regulation (CRR).
EBA Publishes Regulatory Standards to Identify Shadow Banking Entities
The European Banking Authority (EBA) published the final draft regulatory technical standards specifying the criteria to identify shadow banking entities for the purposes of reporting large exposures.
EIOPA Examines Physical Climate Risk Exposure, SII Non-Compliance
The European Insurance and Occupational Pensions Authority (EIOPA) published a report assessing insurers' exposure to physical climate change risks
NGFS Report Explores Quantification of Climate Risk Differentials
The Network for Greening the Financial System (NGFS) published two reports to aid central banks and regulators in their oversight of the financial sector and in their central bank operations
EC Publishes Results on Review of Web Accessibility Directive
The European Commission (EC) published the results of a public consultation, held in October 2021, on the review of the Web Accessibility Directive.
MAS Consults on Adjustment Spreads for Conversion of SOR Contracts
The Monetary Authority of Singapore (MAS) and the SC-STS are jointly consulting, until June 10, 2022, on setting adjustment spreads for the conversion of legacy SOR contracts to SORA reference rate.
OSFI Discusses Benchmark Rate Transition, Sets Out Work Priorities
The Office of the Superintendent of Financial Institutions (OSFI) published the strategic plan for 2022-2025 and the departmental plan for 2022-23.
EBA Proposes Standards to Support Secondary NPL Markets
The European Banking Authority (EBA) is consulting, until August 31, 2022, on the draft implementing technical standards specifying requirements for the information that sellers of non-performing loans (NPLs) shall provide to prospective buyers.
EU Confirms Agreement on Rules on Cybersecurity and Banking Resolution
The European Council and the Parliament reached an agreement on the revised Directive on security of network and information systems (NIS2 Directive).
EBA Issues Standards for Crowdfunding Service Providers Under ECSPR
The European Banking Authority (EBA) published the final draft regulatory technical standards specifying information that crowdfunding service providers shall provide to investors on the calculation of credit scores and prices of crowdfunding offers.