February 1 (SeeNews) - The combined net profit of Bulgarian banks rose to 1.26 billion levs ($690.9 million/655 million euro) in 2016 from 898.4 million levs in 2015, according to central bank data.
The banks' combined interest income dropped to 3.3 billion levs in 2016, which compares to 3.65 billion levs in 2015, figures posted on the website of the Bulgarian National Bank show.
Fee and commission income totalled 1 billion levs last year, the same amount as in 2015.
Total interest expenses in the review period dropped to 510.7 million levs, from 879.7 million levs in 2015.
The banking sector's total net operating revenue in 2016 edged down to 4.1 billion levs, from 4.2 billion levs in 2015.
The banks' total assets increased to 92 billion levs at the end of December, compared to 87.5 billion levs a year earlier.
A total of 22 banks and five branches of foreign banks operated in Bulgaria as of end-December 2016.
(1 euro=1.95583 levs)