Banking is going through a fundamental transformation

Banks need to shift to customer-specific approach, the head of the EIB representation for Bulgaria Teodor Radonov tells Kapital Insights

The day in 3 news: Changes in administration continue, Development bank keeps its rating and industrial holdings grow significantly

Bulgarian banks weather stormy year in 2020

The financial sector got a reprieve for the coronavirus crisis but risks are yet to come in 2021

Demand for housing is on the rise

The housing market was active in the first quarter of the year, pushing property prices upwards

Bulgaria’s biggest fintech deals

Fintech companies’ strong growth draws interest from investors and VC funds

Coronavirus wipes out half of banks’ profit in 2020

Weak lending and COVID-19 measures are to blame. For a second year in a row, Bulgarian banks will skip dividend

The ghost of bad loans in a COVID-hit economy

Over 4.65 billion euro worth of loans have received a deferral under Bulgaria's credit moratorium by the end of August

Coronavirus puts pressure on Bulgarian banks

In the second quarter, banks’ profits plummeted due to higher provisions and declining interest and fee income

Mortgage lending did not bend to the pandemic

The overall property loan volume in Bulgaria grew in 2020 as demand remained high even during the pandemic

The pressure below surface

Bulgarian banks remained profitable in the first three quarters of 2020 despite the coronavirus impact but with the expiry of the credit moratorium drawing nearer pressure will likely increase on profit margins in the coming months

Bulgaria’s GDP: Nowhere to go but up

The sharpest economic drop on record was expected to be followed by a quick recovery. The third quarter is not looking so good though.

Bulgarian Development Bank’s New Leadership

A dubious loan stirred public uproar in April, leading to the quick dismissal of the bank’s management but the new team seems unlikely to fix the systemic problems at the state-owned lender

How the government bought a bank

The government has cleared the last hurdle on the path to the Eurozone’s waiting room by purchasing a 20% stake in the private lender for 140 million levs

Filling the gap

First Investment Bank (Fibank) prepares to smooth out wrinkles on its balance sheet found by ECB

The gambling war

The attack on gambling tycoon Vasil Bozhkov is yet another example of how politics and business in Bulgaria are intertwined

Bulgaria gliding on the waves of the economic cycle

The local economy continues to move in sync with European trends, while opportunities for reforms slowly dwindle

Economic outlook for Bulgaria remains (relatively) rosy

The chances of an impending recession are slim, the country’s forecast looks good compared to rising pessimism in Europe

ECB’s test: who failed and who passed

Four Bulgarian banks passed the European Central Bank’s comprehensive assessment, whereas Fibank and Investbank face capital shortfalls

The TOP 25 in the fuel sector: A year of infighting and scandals

A major restructuring is underway in the sector as new players seek a bigger share of the market