Moratorium use won't put clients on BdP 'list'
Observador reports that using a loan moratorium does not place clients on the Bank of Portugal (Banco de Portugal or BdP)'s list of problematic borrowers, addressing borrower concerns after the calamity. The article aims to clarify whether moratoria affect credit records; borrowers should check communications from their bank and the BdP for details on how measures appear on their files.
Banco de Portugal is Portugal's central bank, founded in 1846. It is a member of the European System of Central Banks (ESCB) and the Eurosystem, working alongside the European Central Bank (ECB) to implement monetary policy in the euro area.
Its main functions include supervising banks and financial institutions, ensuring financial stability, managing Portugal's gold and foreign currency reserves, and producing economic research and statistics. It also operates the payment systems infrastructure and issues banknotes.
Banco de Portugal is led by a Governor — currently Mário Centeno (since 2020) — who also sits on the ECB's Governing Council. For residents, the central bank matters because it regulates the banks they use, sets macroprudential rules (such as mortgage lending limits), and provides a complaints mechanism for banking disputes.
A moratorium (moratória) is a temporary pause or deferral on payments such as mortgages, loans or tax deadlines agreed by banks or the state. After a disaster these measures are exceptional and time-limited, and consumers should confirm the exact terms, deadlines and eligibility with their bank or the Autoridade Tributária.
