Published in Narodne novine 86/2026 (August 7, 2026) | Effective November 20, 2026
The Croatian Parliament passed the new Consumer Credit Act on July 15, 2026 — the biggest reform of consumer lending since 2009. Published in the Official Gazette, the main rules kick in on November 20, 2026. Here is a complete overview of what changes for consumers, banks, retailers, and anyone who has ever taken a loan, gone into overdraft, or bought on installments.
Why a new law?
Croatia transposed the EU CCD 2 Directive (Consumer Credit Directive 2, EU 2023/2225) into its legislation and merged two existing laws — the Consumer Credit Act (NN 75/09) and the Residential Consumer Credit Act (NN 101/17) — into a single act.
Goal: stronger consumer protection, greater transparency, and more responsible lending.
Deadlines: when does what take effect?
The law takes effect in three phases:
| Phase | Date | What changes |
|---|---|---|
| 1. | November 20, 2026 | Main rules — most of the 17 changes |
| 2. | June 1, 2027 | Licensing for previously unregulated lenders |
| 3. | January 1, 2028 | Rules for card installment payments and BNPL (“buy now, pay later”) |
17 key changes include: ban on unsolicited credit limit increases, mandatory warning in all ads, end of pre-checked boxes, stricter creditworthiness assessment, right to human review of AI decisions, “right to be forgotten” for cancer survivors (10 years after treatment), free choice of insurance, ban on tying practices, stronger withdrawal rights (14 days, unlimited if not informed), cheaper early repayment (max 1% fee, 0% for mortgages), FINA free debt counseling, annual credit statements, and more.
Source: Consumer Credit Act (NN 86/2026, August 7, 2026), Directive (EU) 2023/2225. This article is for informational purposes only and does not constitute legal advice. For specific situations, consult a lawyer or financial advisor.