For banks with total assets under HUF 50 bln, the bank levy will remain at 0.15% but for banks with assets above that amount the bank levy will be reduced from 0.53% to 0.31%. In 2017 and 2018 the bank levy will be reduced to 0.21%.

As a further measure the bank levy for individual institutions in the 2016 fiscal year will be capped at 45% of the amount they paid in 2015. In 2017 and 2018 the levy will be capped in the amount banks paid in 2016.

As an incentive the National Economy Ministry is proposing to further reduce the bank levy for banks in 2017 and 2018, practically capping it at 30% of the levy paid in 2015, if they increase their corporate lending and their lending to SMEs in 2016 through transactions and outlays.

Lenders will also be eligible for this incentive in 2017 and 2018 if they increase their retail lending to households in 2016 through outlays.