2025-01-01
The Council of the Central Bank of Montenegro issued this Decision to prescribe the detailed method, procedure, and requirements for assessing consumer creditworthiness. Creditors are mandated to rigorously verify income history, existing obligations, and future risks to prevent over-indebtedness, with specific protocols for self-employed individuals and loans extending beyond retirement age. The regulation further requires comprehensive documentation retention and internal controls to ensure loan decisions are based on accurate information and available for regulatory inspection.
[unofficial translation] Pursuant to Article 44 paragraph 2 item 3 of the Central Bank of Montenegro Law (OGM 40/10, 6/13, 70/17 and 125/23), and Article 30 paragraph 12 of the Consumer Credit Law (OGM 15/25), the Council of the Central Bank of Montenegro, at its meeting held on 20 November 2025, passed the following DECISION ON THE DETAILED METHOD, REQUIREMENTS, AND PROCEDURE FOR THE CONSUMER CREDITWORTHINESS ASSESSMENT Subject matter Article 1 This Decision shall prescribe in more detail the method, procedure for consumer creditworthiness assessment, and the requirements in connection with consumer creditworthiness assessment. Definitions Article 2 The terms used in this Decision shall have the following meanings:
[unofficial translation]
Decision on the Detailed Method, Requirements, and Procedure for the Consumer Creditworthiness Assessment (OGM 135/25) 2 exchange rate changes in the case of consumer loans in foreign currencies, negative amortisation, deferred repayments of principal or interest). (3) Where the consumer is self-employed or has seasonal or other irregular income, a creditor shall verify in a secure and reliable manner the information relating to consumer’s ability to meet their obligations under consumer loan agreement, including their ability to earn income, and shall verify the documentation on income earned in such manner issued by third persons. (4) If the repayment period for a consumer loan exceeds the consumer’s statutory retirement age, a creditor shall determine by an internal act the manner of verification of the adequacy of expected consumer’s income and their ability to continue meeting their obligations under the consumer loan agreement after the retirement. (5) A creditor shall prescribe by their internal acts the procedure for consumer creditworthiness assessment in accordance with the requirements set out in paragraphs (2), (3) and (4) of this Article, including the method of determining the minimum living costs of the consumer and their immediate family forming a joint household in accordance with the restrictions set out in the Law. Keeping records on consumer loans Article 4 (1) For the purpose of reliable implementation and monitoring of the consumer’s creditworthiness assessment procedure, a creditor shall define loan documentation that shall contain, in particular, the following:
[unofficial translation]
Decision on the Detailed Method, Requirements, and Procedure for the Consumer Creditworthiness Assessment (OGM 135/25) 3 Entry into force Article 5 This Decision shall enter into force on the day following that of its publication in the “Official Gazette of Montenegro”, and shall apply from 28 November 2025. THE COUNCIL OF THE CENTRAL BANK OF MONTENEGRO Decision no. 0101- 9051-7 /2025 CHAIRPERSON GOVERNOR Podgorica, 20 November 2025 Irena Radović, m.p.