TITLE: Russia's Bank of Russia Tightens Macroprudential Limits for Mortgage and Consumer Lending in 2026 Q3
BODY:
On April 29, 2026, the Bank of Russia announced adjustments to its macroprudential policy framework, effective from July 1, 2026 (Q3 2026), targeting high-risk lending segments across the financial sector.
The Bank of Russia tightened macroprudential limits (MPLs) for mortgage loans, reflecting rising delinquencies in housing finance. As of April 1, 2026, mortgages overdue for more than 90 days reached 1.0 percent, up from 0.6 percent a year earlier, driven primarily by loans issued during the 2023–2024 subsidised mortgage programme. The regulator reduced MPLs for mortgages with debt service-to-income (DSTI) ratios above 80 percent or down payments below 20 percent, from 7 percent to 5 percent for housing under construction and from 20 percent to 15 percent for existing housing. For individual housing construction (IHC) mortgages and home equity loans, the Bank of Russia established new restrictions targeting borrowers with DSTI above 50 percent, with stricter sub-limits for those exceeding 80 percent DSTI. IHC mortgage delinquencies reached 4.4 percent and home equity loan delinquencies climbed to 6.1 percent as of April 1, 2026.
The regulator maintained unchanged MPLs for unsecured consumer loans and car loans, noting that leading indicators of loan servicing are gradually improving. However, it tightened MPLs for general-purpose consumer loans secured by motor vehicles, reducing the limit for borrowers with DSTI above 50 percent from 20 percent to 18 percent. The Bank of Russia also maintained the national countercyclical buffer at 0.5 percentage points, determining that banks hold sufficient capital buffers to support sustainable credit expansion.
The macroprudential add-on for large highly leveraged companies remains at the elevated 100 percent level set in March 2026, with no revisions to corporate foreign currency credit add-ons.