Portugal news, in English, every morning. Free.

Subscribe

The Portugal Brief
Subscribe

Banking

Banking services, regulations, and financial products in Portugal.

Economy

IMF Article IV Mission Pushes Lisbon to Reverse the IRS Jovem and the IVA Reduzido on Restaurants — Mission Chief Jean-François Dauphin Flags €693 Million in Lost 2026 Revenue and a 4.2% Inflation Path if the Iran War Drags Into 2027

The IMF's 2026 Article IV concluding statement — released Tuesday in Lisbon — recommends Portugal reverse the IRS Jovem and the IVA reduzido on restaurants, replace the fuel-excise cut with targeted support, and link early retirement to the statutory age.

Banking

Banks Lend Households €4.057 Billion in March 2026 — First Print Above Four Billion in the Banco de Portugal Series Since January 2003, Mortgage Rate Eases to 2.81% and Term-Deposit Rates Post the Biggest Monthly Jump in Two and a Half Years

BdP's March release puts new household loans at €4,057 million — the first print above four billion since the series began in January 2003. Housing leads at €2,238M, the new mortgage rate eases to 2.81%, and term-deposit rates post their biggest jump in 2.5 years.

Banking

BPI's João Pedro Oliveira e Costa Tells the Bank of Portugal His Youth-Credit Book Is Clean — Lisbon Lender Books €133 Million Q1 Profit, -2% Year-on-Year, as the Supervisor Prepares Tighter Mortgage Rules

BPI CEO João Pedro Oliveira e Costa rejected Bank of Portugal concerns over the youth-credit programme, telling reporters the bank sees 'nenhum nível de preocupação'. BPI booked €133 million in Q1 net profit, down 2 percent. The supervisor is preparing tighter macroprudential mortgage rules.

Banking

Caixa Económica Montepio Q1 2026 Net Profit Falls 31% to €23.6 Million as Credit-Impairment Reversal Base Effect Bites — Deposits Hit Record €16.3 Billion, NPE Stable at 1.6%

Montepio's Q1 2026 net profit of €23.6 million is down 31% YoY against an extraordinary €12.3 million credit-impairment reversal in Q1 2025. Banking product climbed 4.4% to €109.1 million, customer deposits hit a record €16.3 billion (+6.8%), and NPE held at 1.6%. Underlying franchise grew 11%.