14.04.2021

INTEREST-FREE LOANS FOR INDIVIDUALS AND BUSINESSES CONTINUE TO BE PROVIDED

2014 loans totaling almost BGN 10 million are the approved interest-free loans for individuals, which will be granted after the restart of the anti-crisis program of the Bulgarian Development Bank (BDB) was announced two weeks ago. In March, by a decision of the Council of Ministers, the program was increased by BGN 100 million to continue supporting the injured employees and self-insured persons who cannot work due to the COVID-19 pandemic.

Thus, since the beginning of the measure until now, the number of approved interest-free loans is already over 39,790, and their total value is almost BGN 178 million. , are First Investment Bank, Investbank, UniCredit Bulbank, United Bulgarian Bank and Raiffeisenbank. The Central Cooperative Bank is expected to resume accepting documents within days.

1,414 is the number of confirmed for guarantee loans under the anti-crisis program in support of business, as their total value exceeds BGN 205 million. Thus, in total, under the two measures - for individuals and companies, BDB has confirmed loans worth over BGN 383 million. leva.

BDB guarantees loans of up to BGN 1 million for small and medium enterprises and up to BGN 2 million for large companies that suffer negative consequences from the pandemic. The loans are granted by 9 partner banks: Allianz Bank, DSK Bank, Bulgarian-American Credit Bank, Investbank, First Investment Bank, Postbank, D Commercial Bank, UniCredit Bulbank and UBB.

Loans guaranteed by BDB are granted with reduced collateral requirements, with a lower interest rate and with the possibility of a grace period of up to 3 years.

The average amount of loans so far is BGN 145,200. The largest is the share of micro and small enterprises - 76%, second are medium-sized enterprises with 21%, and the smallest is the share of large companies - 3 percent.

The application deadlines for both guarantee programs have been extended until June 2021.