2022-04-07
The Bank of Angola issued Notice No. 10/2022 to mandate Commercial Banks to extend credit to the real economy's essential cultivation and production sectors under strict terms and conditions. The regulation caps total credit costs at 7.5% annually for investments and 10% for working capital, while establishing minimum disbursement quotas and mandatory reserve deductions based on banks' net assets. Banks must adhere to a comply-or-explain framework, reporting annually on their lending performance and facing sanctions for unmet targets or non-compliance with risk assessment and reporting obligations.
PUBLISHED IN THE OFFICIAL GAZETTE, FIRST SERIES, NO. 60, OF APRIL 6, 2022 NOTICE NO. 10/2022 SUBJECT: GRANTING OF CREDIT TO THE REAL SECTOR OF THE ECONOMY
Whereas it is necessary to update the scope of application of this Notice, particularly regarding eligible credit modalities; Pursuant to the combined provisions of Article 26 of Law No. 14/21 of May 19 - General Regime of Financial Institutions Law, and Article 54 of Law No. 24/21 of October 18 - Bank of Angola Law. I HEREBY DETERMINE:
Article 1. (Subject Matter) This Notice establishes, regarding the credit that Banking Financial Institutions (hereinafter referred to as Commercial Banks) must grant to the real sector of the economy, the following: a) The terms and conditions applicable to said credits; b) The minimum requirements in terms of number and total value; c) Their treatment in the calculation of mandatory reserves.
Article 2. (Scope) This Notice applies to the granting of credit in the modalities referred to in its Article 3, for cultivation and production activities of essential goods, namely: a) Poultry farming, cattle farming, goat farming, pig farming and derivatives; b) Beekeeping; c) Commercial fishing, aquaculture and all activities related to the fishing industry;
CONTINUATION OF NOTICE NO. 10/2022 Page 2 of 7 d) Pastry and baking; e) Cultivation and derivatives of: i) Rice; ii) Coffee; iii) Sugarcane; iv) Beans; v) Tropical fruit; vi) Vegetables; vii) Corn; viii) Wheat; ix) Tubers; x) Palm; xi) Soy; f) Production of: i) Beverages, including juices; ii) Milk and its derivatives; iii) Edible oil; iv) Common salt; v) Hygiene products; vi) Packaging; vii) Soap and detergents; viii) Wood and its derivatives; ix) Steel rebar used in the construction sector; x) Glass; xi) Fertilizers and soil correction materials.
Article 3. (Credit Modalities) Commercial Banks must grant credit in the modality most appropriate to its purpose, namely: a) Medium to long-term credit for investment, including for the acquisition of machinery and equipment, which must have a maximum term equal to the payback period of said investment, and Commercial Banks must consider, in addition to financing with real guarantees, the financial leasing modality; b) Short-term credit for the purchase of raw materials and other inputs from local suppliers in the national market, which must be granted for a maximum term estimated between its acquisition and the sale or payment by the buyer of the finished product; c) Credit granted in the factoring modality.
CONTINUATION OF NOTICE NO. 10/2022 Page 3 of 7 Article 4. (Credit Access Criteria) Access to credit under this Notice is limited to banking clients who meet the following requirements: a) They are a company incorporated under the Commercial Companies Law or the Single-Member Companies Law; b) They have organized accounting and accounts certified by an accountant or certified accountant registered with the Angolan Order of Accountants and Certified Accountants; c) They have a regular tax status; d) They have proven experience in the activity they carry out and for which they are applying for credit.
Article 5. (Cost of Credit)
CONTINUATION OF NOTICE NO. 10/2022 Page 4 of 7 3. Expenses associated with any public guarantee or insurance that serves to mitigate credit risk shall be paid by the borrower and are added to the cost of credit referred to in the preceding paragraph.
Article 6. (Credit Risk Assessment and Management) Commercial Banks must: a) Formulate a policy for granting credit under this Notice that defines risk assessment and management criteria appropriate to the nature, amount, and characteristics of the credit, as well as for the establishment of impairments required by current accounting standards; b) Take into account the provisions of Instruction No. 04/19 of April 26 on Credit Granting, regarding the assessment of client solvency, considering the specificity of the credit, and must apply the same procedures to the assessment of debtors in factoring contract cases; c) Ensure a complete understanding of the specific risks of the sector in which the client's activity falls, and must, whenever necessary, resort to specialists to ensure a well-founded credit decision; d) Assess the possibility that the credit to be granted could benefit from an agricultural credit guarantee or insurance to mitigate credit risk, and must, in cases where these instruments are available, assist the client in contracting them; e) Comply with the provisions of Instruction No. 07/20 of April 20 regarding analysis periods, communication of the final decision, formalization, and disbursement of credit; f) Ensure regular monitoring of their clients, in order to timely detect financial difficulties or other circumstances that may increase the risk of default, and take appropriate measures to prevent or resolve the situation, in accordance with Instruction No. 04/2019 of April 26.
Article 7. (Minimum Requirements for Credit to be Granted)
| Total Net Assets | Minimum Number of Credits to be Granted |
|---|---|
| Equal to or greater than Kz 400,000.00 | 25 |
| Equal to or greater than Kz 200,000.00 | 20 |
| Greater than Kz 50,000.00 | 15 |
| Up to 50,000.00 | 5 |
CONTINUATION OF NOTICE NO. 10/2022 Page 5 of 7 Article 8. (Deduction of Mandatory Reserves)
CONTINUATION OF NOTICE NO. 10/2022 Page 6 of 7 c) 25% (twenty-five percent) of principal for credits overdue for more than 90 days and credits restructured due to client financial difficulties, granted under this Notice and those preceding it. 2. The Bank of Angola may, exceptionally, upon request by a Commercial Bank, allow the deduction of mandatory reserves for amounts related to restructured credits granted to projects considered relevant in the national context, which do not meet the requirements established in paragraph (b) of the preceding paragraph, determining specific weightings applicable to those cases.
Article 9. (Information Reporting)
Article 10. (Publication of Information) Commercial Banks must maintain on their institutional website, in a highly visible location, information regarding access requirements to credit under this Notice, including an updated list of documents and other information that must be submitted by the client for this purpose.
Article 11. (Sanctions)
CONTINUATION OF NOTICE NO. 10/2022 Page 7 of 7
Article 12. (Repeal) All regulations contrary to the provisions of this Notice are hereby repealed.
Article 13. (Doubts and Omissions) Doubts and omissions resulting from the interpretation and application of this Notice are resolved by the Bank of Angola.
Article 14. (Entry into Force) This Notice enters into force the day following its publication. PUBLISH. Luanda, March 29, 2022. THE GOVERNOR JOSÉ DE LIMA MASSANO