Bulgarian banks had made €1.6bn in profit by the end of September 2026, data from the Bulgarian National Bank (BNB) show. That is €177m, or 12.3%, more than a year earlier.
In the third quarter, banks increased their assets, loans and deposits, while bad loans fell.
Total assets in the banking system rose by €3.4bn, or 2.8%, to €124.4bn. The liquidity coverage ratio shows whether banks hold enough cash they can get at easily. It stood at 263.1% at the end of September, against 261.2% at the end of June. The required minimum is 100%.
Gross loans and advances rose by €733m (0.9%) to €83.8bn. The gross loan portfolio is €72.5bn, after growing by €2.2bn (3.1%) in the quarter.
Most of the rise came from household loans, which grew by 5.1% (€1.7bn). Of that increase, €1.1bn is loans secured against a home. Loans to firms rose by €684m (2.2%) and loans to other financial firms by €207m (3.9%). Loans to the government fell by €401m, or 35.2%.
Non-performing loans, which people and firms are not paying back regularly, total €2.2bn gross. That is €28m (1.3%) less than at the end of June. Their share of total gross loans and advances fell from 2.65% to 2.59%.
Once the money banks have set aside for losses on these loans is subtracted, non-performing loans come to €1bn. That is €9m (0.9%) less than on 30 June. Their share of net loans is 1.24%, against 1.26% at the end of June.
Bank deposits rose by €2.3bn (2.3%) to €103.6bn. Firms added the most, with €1.4bn (5.3%). Household deposits rose by €851m (1.5%) and deposits of credit institutions by €333m (3.3%).
Government deposits fell by €192m (7.8%) and those of other financial firms by €102m (3.9%).
Banks set aside €382m for impairment of financial assets, meaning possible losses on them. That is €134m, or 54%, more than at 30 September 2025.