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Как уменьшить процентную ставку по кредиту?

What if the Bank raised the interest rate unilaterally?

How to reduce the interest rate on a loan through the court?

How to reduce the monthly payment on the loan?

In most cases, Banks allow a unilateral increase in the interest rate on loan agreements, and not always notify the borrower of such a rise. However, these actions of the Bank are ILLEGAL!

Credit debt

According to article 525 of the Civil code of Ukraine unilateral refusal of the obligation or unilateral change of its conditions is not allowed, unless otherwise established by the contract or the law. But, today, the specified norm does not work for the Respondent.

On January 9, 2009, the Law of Ukraine On amendments to some legislative acts of Ukraine concerning the prohibition of Banks to change the terms of the Bank Deposit agreement and credit agreement unilaterally came into force, which supplemented articles 1056-1 of the civil code of Ukraine and part 4 of the article. 55 of the Law of Ukraine On Banks and Banking activities, providing for the prohibition of Banks to unilaterally increase the established amount of interest on credit agreements concluded with customers, in particular, to increase the interest rate on credit agreements or reduce its size under Bank Deposit agreements (except for the Deposit on demand), except for cases established by law.

The corresponding norm blocks the possibility of Banks unilaterally increasing the interest rate on loans.

In connection with the above, based on legal analysis of the laws of Ukraine and regulations of the National Bank of Ukraine On Banks and Banking activities, Banks can change the interest rate on loans provided only in the case of increasing the discount rate of the NBU.  Problem loan.

Attention! All Borrowers of Banks need to check their mutual settlements on loans. If there is a unilaterally increased interest rate by the Bank, the Borrower can reduce his debt to the Bank through the court!!!

The lawyer on the credits. In the context of the financial and economic crisis in Ukraine, national commercial Banks have increased interest rates on loans. In addition, they began to unreasonably increase interest rates on loans already granted.

What to do with the loan?

Under these conditions, individuals and legal entities that have received loans should understand that Banks do not have the right to unreasonably increase the rate on already provided loans. ‘There is no money to pay the loan’. I don’t want to pay the loan’ is another story.

It should be noted that all credit agreements which are offered by Banks for signing customers are typical, and in all contains a clause that in the event of a change of monetary policy by the decisions of the legislative or Executive authorities, National Bank of Ukraine, as well as, in case of occurrence of an event that has a direct impact on the value of the resources of the Creditor and which does not depend on the will of the parties, the Creditor has the right to change (increase or decrease) the interest rate on the loan.

By including such a clause in the loan agreements, the Banks consider that they have the right to raise the interest rate on the loan on their own, at their own discretion, and, in this case, the Bank’s client must either agree to an increase in the interest rate and sign an additional agreement on this, or, if he does not agree with it,

I can’t pay the loan. Analyzing this issue, it should be noted that the activities of Banks are regulated by the current legislation of Ukraine on Banks and Banking activities (laws and regulations of the National Bank of Ukraine (hereinafter-the NBU), which regulate the activities of Banks and, in particular, the conditions for increasing the interest rate on loans).

What to do if you cannot pay the loan?

According to part 4 of article 11 of the Law of Ukraine of 12.05.91 No. 1023-12 On protection of consumer rights (hereinafter-the Law on protection of consumer rights) in the contract for the provision of consumer credit should indicate that the interest rate on the loan may vary depending on changes in the discount rate of the NBU or in other cases. The consumer shall be notified in writing by the lender of a change in the interest rate on a consumer loan within seven calendar days from the date of its change. Without such notice, any change in the interest rate is void!

Attention! The Law of Ukraine On consumer protection clearly establishes one of the cases of changes in the interest rate on the loan, namely, the change in the discount rate of the NBU. The concept of other cases is not specified in the Law.

However, this does not give grounds for the conclusion that the contract list of cases in which there is a change in the interest rate on the loan is unlimited.

The provision of part 4 shall be construed subject to the provisions of paragraph 4 of part 5 of article 11 of the Law On protection of consumer rights, according to which the discriminatory rules concerning the consumer interest rate is an unfair term of the contract (this is contrary to the principle of good faith has the consequence of significant imbalance of contractual rights and obligations to the detriment of the consumer – article 18 of the Law On protection of consumer rights). Break the loan agreement.

Given the practice of concluding agreements lending – banks develop own standard forms of contract, the terms of which are the same for any ordinary client and not modified by the Bank at his request, there is every reason to conclude that the credit agreement is an adhesion contract because the consumer, desiring to conclude an agreement, is unable to affect its terms, including as to unilateral changes in interest rates.

In such circumstances, the provisions of the loan agreement that give banks the right to change the interest rate at their own discretion are discriminatory in the sense that this concept is embedded in the law on consumer protection.

Thus, the concept of so-called other cases can not be interpreted in an extended way, but can only cover those cases that are not discriminatory in the sense of paragraph 4 of part 5 of article 11 of the said Law. These so-called other cases can only be the occurrence of events that are as independent of the will of the parties to the agreement as a change in the NBU’s discount rate.

→ Also, banks are not allowed to change the interest rate on the loan due to the will of one of the parties (changing the credit policy).

In connection with the above, and based on the legal analysis of the laws of Ukraine and regulatory acts of the NBU on banks and banking activities, banks can change the interest rate on loans provided only if the NBU’s discount rate is increased.

With regard to loans received before the NBU discount rate increase, it should be understood that the Bank’s client, based on article 4 Of the law “on consumer protection”, The law on banks and banking activities, and resolutions of the NBU Board of Directors, has the right and must request justification of the reasons and circumstances for increasing the interest rate under the loan agreement, its calculation and compliance with the current legislation of Ukraine on banks and banking activities, before signing an additional agreement.

→ If the Bank does not agree, the client can apply to the NBU representative office or the local court.

It should also be noted that banks are liable for an unreasonable increase in the interest rate on a loan, contrary to the current legislation of Ukraine, in accordance with the Law “on banks and banking activities”, The law “on consumer protection”, The code of administrative offences of Ukraine and other legislative acts.

Therefore, if the Bank’s actions violate Your rights and legitimate interests, this can and should be countered. You need to start with a detailed analysis of the loan agreement and current legislation, which will certainly need the help of a competent lawyer.

By contacting Kasyanenko and Partners Law Company, you will find a solution to your problem.

Dmytro Kasyanenko

Lawyer, managing partner of the Law Firm "Kasyanenko & Partners". Since 2002, Dmytro Leonidovych has started his path in the legal field, moving from key positions in business structures to significant roles in the public sector. Thanks to his experience, he has become a known expert in the fields of criminal law, banking and financial law, commercial and tax law, and litigation.

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