National Bank of Moldova adopts unified responsible consumer lending rules for banks and non-bank lenders effective 19 June 2026

The National Bank of Moldova has approved a revised responsible consumer lending framework that harmonises requirements for banks and non-bank credit organisations, as part of its macroprudential approach to limiting excessive household indebtedness. The new regulation sets borrower-based limits and tightens expectations for creditworthiness assessments to support sustainable lending. The framework maintains caps on the loan-to-collateral ratio (RCG) of 80% for consumer real estate investment loans, subject to specified exceptions, and on the debt service-to-income ratio (RSDV) of 40% for consumer credit, excluding loans granted under the state “Prima casă” programme. It also confirms maximum maturities of five years for consumer loans and 30 years for real estate investment loans, and introduces a maximum maturity of seven years for financial leasing contracts. Key changes include clarified and expanded definitions, an adjusted and unified list of exemptions aligned to Law No. 202/2013 that removes certain previously exempt contracts including interest-free and no-cost loans, more detailed rules on income recognition and verification, a broader and more prudent approach to foreign exchange risk where credit is denominated or linked to a currency different from the consumer’s income, new reporting requirements for non-bank lenders on RCG and RSDV values, and clarified creditor responsibility including where lending is conducted through intermediaries. The rules apply only to loans and financial leasing provided to consumers for non-business purposes. The regulation enters into force on 19 June 2026.