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For third consecutive month BNB raises base rate

BNB building
Photo: Ani Petrova

On 1 November, the Bulgarian National Bank is raising the base rate for the national currency – Lev – to 3.79%. The base rate in October was 3.64%, and in September 3.53%. Interest rates have been going up since the end of September 2022 when the BNB announced a rate increase from zero percent for September to 0.49% as of 1 October, 2022. By the end of 2022, the annual base rate had reached 1.42%.

Over the first 9 months of the year, the banking system in Bulgaria has registered records-high profits of EUR 1.35 billion (2.7 billion Leva), or 80.5% more compared to the same period of 2022, the BNB says. The impressive profits made by banks in 2023 are due mostly to the significant increase in revenue from interest on loans and higher fees and commissions. 



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