The Banking Agency of the Federation of Bosnia and Herzegovina in order to preserve the security of banking system and to increase the level of banking system to act in emergency circumstances caused by the COVID-19 virus disease, adopted decisions on temporary measures for the treatment of credit obligations of natural persons and legal entities in banks and non-depository financial institutions (MCOs and leasing companies).
By decisions, banks and non-depository financial institutions may approve specific measures for clients, such as:
[1] a moratorium, or a delay in repayment of a loan, which may last at least until the announcement of the COVID-19 virus emergency break,
[2] the introduction of a grace period for repayment of the principal of credit obligations on a maximum period of 6 months,
[3] ranting an additional exposure to overcome its current liquidity difficulties, and
[4] other measures to facilitate the settlement of the client’s credit obligations and the maintenance of the client’s business.
When it comes to natural persons, the bank and non-depository financial institutions will act on their own assessment, and they will assess the documentation and information on the vulnerability of individual clients and groups of clients that share common characteristics (e.g. employees at the same employer). In order to preserve and strengthen the stability of the financial system, the Agency will monitor the situation in the financial sector and will monitor the implementation of the decisions taken and carefully analyze the effects of the adopted regulations.
Regarding the entity of Republic of Srpska it is agreed that this entity will also apply same measures in coordination with the Banking Agency of the Federation of Bosnia and Herzegovina.
Speaking of the state aid, currently on the state level there are discussions on providing aid to legal entities, but still there no news on implementation of such decision on granting aid. Also European Union is considering how best to support the mitigation of socio-economic consequences, including the diversion of IPA funding and making state aid rules more flexible and that way to help economy of Bosnia and Herzegovina.
The International Monetary Fund (IMF) will most probably extend a 165 million euros ($181 million) loan to Bosnia and Herzegovina to soften the blow to its healthcare and economy from the spread of coronavirus. IMF is exploring the possibility of providing emergency assistance to Bosnia and Herzegovina under a Rapid Financing Instrument (RFI), which is part of the $50 billion in resources the Washington-based global lender.
