Moldovan banks will be required to implement ESG standards, strengthen risk management, and adhere to gender neutrality
This is included in draft amendments and additions to the Regulation on the Fundamentals of Bank Management, which the National Bank of Moldova has submitted for public consultation. The draft proposes introducing requirements related to environmental, social, and governance (ESG) risks. Banks will be required to integrate ESG risk strategies, policies, and monitoring systems into their corporate governance systems, test their resilience to long-term climate and social factors, and report to the National Bank on their exposure to such risks. A provision is being introduced for banks to implement a mechanism for identifying and managing conflicts of interest in the context of loans and other transactions with members of management bodies and their affiliates. Lending decisions in such situations must be made objectively, without undue influence due to conflicts of interest. Furthermore, banks must adhere to gender neutrality when developing and implementing internal policies, including those related to hiring, career development, access to training and job openings, and so on. Remuneration policy provisions are being expanded to ensure that employee remuneration does not encourage excessive risk-taking and to include mechanisms for adjusting remuneration in situations where developments are not proceeding in the desired direction. Standards for identifying, administering, monitoring, and reporting specific banking risks are also being expanded. The regulation includes a methodology that banks must use to assess risks arising from possible changes in interest rates, which impact both the economic value of equity and net interest income on non-trading book transactions. Stress testing scenarios are being clarified as part of the supervision of interest rate risk associated with non-trading book transactions, etc. The amendments to the regulation will contribute to the creation of a more sustainable, transparent, and responsible regulatory framework, increased stability in the banking sector, and a stronger risk management system in line with European and international standards. Consultations on the draft are open until June 2: https://bnm.md/ro/content/proiectul-hce-al-bnm-pentru-modificarea-regulamentului-privind-cadrul-de-… // May 13, 2026 – InfoMarket.
