site.btaBanking System Reports 3.3% Rise in Profit at End-September, Y/Y

Net income from fees and commissions in the Bulgarian banking system grew by 9.5% on an annual basis to reach BGN 1.3 billion at the end of September, reads the Banks in Bulgaria quarterly publication of the Bulgarian National Bank. It was published on the central bank's website on Monday. As of September 30, 2025, the banking system reported a profit of BGN 2.8 billion, or by BGN 91 million (3.3%) more than in the first nine months of 2024.

Net income from fees and commissions accounted for 21.8% of the net operating income of banks in Bulgaria. Revenues from fees and commissions grew by 11.3% year-on-year to BGN 1.7 billion at the end of the third quarter of 2025, while expenses for fees and commissions increased by 17.5% over the same period to BGN 393 million.

The total net operating income of the banking system increased by BGN 217 million (3.8%) compared to September 30, 2024, reaching BGN 6 billion at the end of September 2025.

Net interest income at the end of the third quarter of this year amounted to BGN 4.2 billion, or by BGN 33 million (0.8%) more compared to the same period last year, and its share in the structure of net operating income reached 69.6% (71.7% as of September 30, 2024). For the same period, interest income increased by BGN 93 million (1.9%) to BGN 5.1 billion, while interest expenses increased by BGN 60 million (7%) to BGN 921 million.

As of September 30, 2025, impairment losses on financial assets not measured at fair value through profit or loss amounted to BGN 506 million, which is by BGN 56 million (12.5%) more than reported for the nine months of 2024. 

The administrative expenses of the banking system increased by BGN 86 million (4.8%) compared to the same period of 2024, to BGN 1.9 billion. Within their structure, personnel expenses increased by BGN 89 million (8.5%) to BGN 1.1 billion. Depreciation expenses increased to BGN 245 million (from BGN 236 million at the end of September 2024). 

Gross non-performing loans and advances at the end of September 2025 amounted to BGN 3.8 billion (BGN 3.9 billion at the end of June 2025). Their share in gross loans and advances on a broad basis decreased to 2.3%, and on a narrow basis to 2.9% (from 2.5% and 3% at the end of June, respectively). During the July-September period of 2025, net non-performing loans and advances (after deduction of their inherent impairment), representing the residual credit risk in bank balance sheets, decreased by BGN 160 million (8.2%) to BGN 1.8 billion. The share of net non-performing loans and advances in total net loans and advances, presented in broad and narrow terms, was 1.1% and 1.4%, respectively, as of September 30 (compared to 1.2% and 1.5% at the end of June).