Factsheet for measure
BG-2020-16/498
–
Updated
– measures in Bulgaria
COVID-19: Interest-free credit guarantee programme for individuals
КОВИД - 19: Програма за гарантиране на безлихвени кредити за физически лица.
Background information
The government approved capital increase of the state-owned Bulgarian Development Bank (BDB) by BGN 700 million (approx. €350 million; 0.6% of 2019 GDP). The bank can therefore provide BGN 200 million (approx. €100 million) for the issuance of portfolio guarantees to commercial banks that shall provide interest-free loans to citizens deprived of the opportunity to work due to the COVID-19 pandemic.
The measure targets short-term funding for individuals employed or self-employed in sectors that suffer economic loses due to the pandemic.
The measure aims to prevent social hardship and back up household (e.g. food, childcare, electricity) and other necessary expenses.
Content of measure
The measure is part of the country's economic measures to assist those affected by the coronavirus.
The interest-free loans of up to BGN 4,500 (approx. €2,250) guaranteed by the state are available to:
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Workers on unpaid leave due to restrictions imposed by the spread of the coronavirus.
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Self-employed, suffering a 20% profit decline during the first quarter of 2020 compared to the first quarter of 2019 as a result of the pandemic.
The main requirements for applicants for interest-free loan are:
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To have an employment relationship at least six months back from the date of application;
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The applicants should not have obligations in the Central Credit Register with a delay of more than 90 days;
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Do not receive remuneration for other employment relationships;
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Have at least five business days worked in March 2020, if this is the month in which they are placed on unpaid leave.
Credit Terms:
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The loans are interest-free (the regular interest rate is 0%) and the borrowers do not owe fees, commissions and penalties to lending institutions.
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Applicants do not provide a collateral as a condition of the loan.
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The maximum repayment period is five years, with a minimum of six months and a maximum of 24 months grace period.
Updates
The following updates to this measure have been made after it came into effect.
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05 August 2021
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The extension of the measure to 31 July 2021 is in connection with a decision of the caretaker government, in particular the caretaker Minister of Economy - Kiril Petko.
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20 July 2021
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Individual applications for Interest-free loans under the BDB program were allowed to be submitted until 31 August 2021.
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30 June 2021
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As of 10 May 2021, under the Program for Individuals of the Bulgarian Development Bank, it has confirmed loans guaranteeing BGN 208,973,013. This is the latest information on this measure so far. An update is forthcoming in the third quarter of 2021.
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06 April 2021
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With a decree of the Council of Ministers from the beginning of March, an increase of the budget for the program in the amount of BGN 100 million was approved. Commercial banks had stopped granting interest-free loans in early 2021, but since the beginning of April, more and more banks are starting to lend up again to BGN 6,900.
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20 January 2021
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Following changes in the program for interest-free lending to individuals, BDB now guarantees loans up to BGN 6,900, instead of up to BGN 4,500, as previously planned. The adopted changes provide an opportunity for lending to citizens who have been on unpaid leave due to the pandemic, and in the current period of restrictive anti-epidemic measures imposed are unemployed.
The partners in the program are 12 commercial banks, ten of which continue to accept applications for interest-free loans. The application deadline for both programs has been extended until June 2021.
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19 June 2020
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Since 19 June 2020, new rules for granting interest-free loans to individuals deprived of the opportunity to work due to the COVID-19 pandemic have been placed into force.
The changes are due to the new conditions in which the programme operates - the abolition of the state of emergency and the gradual normalization of the activities of employees and self-employed persons. The effect of the guarantee program of BDB is expanded and thus it is possible to support a larger circle of those in need.
According to the changes adopted by the Council of Ministers on 19 June 2020, the applicants for an interest-free loan up to BGN 4,500 (€2,250) do not need to be on unpaid leave or with interrupted activity at the moment of submitting the loan application. They can also apply for a credit after returning to work.
The period for which self-insured persons can refer to a decline in their income is also extended.
According to the updated requirements, candidates must be employed on an employment contract for 6 months before the moment of application, and not as before - as of their placement on unpaid leave.
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Use of measure
As of 15 September 2020, 29,000 requests for interest-free credits have been submitted to partnering institutions from private persons since the programme's beginning. Some 17,907 requests for nearly BGN 75 million (€32,5 million) have been approved.
Partners of the programme are Allianz Bank, DSK Bank, Investbank, International Asset Bank, UBB, Municipal Bank, First Investment Bank, Postbank, Raiffeisenbank, D Commerce Bank, Central Cooperative Bank and UniCredit Bulbank.
BDB concluded guarantee agreements with the programming partners for nearly BGN 145 million (€73 million). The remaining funds will be available for the implementation of guarantee agreements until the end of the year, when it is the official deadline for applications.
By January 2021, more than 40,000 individuals have applied for interest-free loans, according to commercial banks, with just over 1,240 currently under consideration. The total value of the approved loans is over €55 million, and the average amount is €2,115.
Target groups
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Workers
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Businesses
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Citizens
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Applies to all workers
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Does not apply to businesses
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Does not apply to citizens
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Actors and funding
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Actors
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Funding
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National government
Other social actors (e.g. NGOs)
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National funds
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Social partners
Social partners' role in
designing the measure
and form of involvement:
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Trade unions
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Employers' organisations
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Role
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Informed
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Informed
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Form
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Not applicable
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Not applicable
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Social partners' role in the
implementation, monitoring and assessment phase:
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Unknown
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Main level of involvement: Unknown
Involvement
The measure was notified to the representatives of the social partners, but it was not discussed in detail with them.
Views and reactions
Social partners agree that it is important to have the programme for interest-free credits during the pandemic, but hope for more grant funding for workers and citizens.
Sources
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06 April 2020: ЗИД на ЗДБРБ
(parliament.bg)
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08 April 2020: Държавен безлихвен кредит до 1500 л
(izbiram.bg)
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14 April 2020: Българска банка за развитие - изисквания
(bbr.bg)
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19 June 2020: The scope of BDB's program for interest-free lending to individuals is expanding
(bbr.bg)
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20 January 2021: ББР одобри кредити за над 268 млн. лв. по двете антикризисни програми
(www.investor.bg)
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06 April 2021: Още две банки рестартират програмата за безлихвени кредити на физически лица
(www.investor.bg)
