Total banking assets in CEE16* exceeded EUR 2.06 trillion as of December 2023 after growing by approximately 11.8% YoY.
The year 2023 marked another robust performance for banks operating in Central and Eastern Europe (CEE16*), as the region experienced a significant asset growth of approximately 11.8% YoY, reaching a combined €2.06 trillion by December 2023 for the 16 countries in the region. The expansion in the CEE financial sector was evident in nearly all countries within the region, with some markets like Lithuania, Poland, and Hungary achieving double-digit growth rates. This recent surge in financial markets across CEE is a testament to the thriving economies, supported by healthy GDP growth and increasing individual incomes.
Remembering the challenging year of 2020, when bank profits experienced a significant hit and key profitability benchmarks were more than halved, regional bankers have shown optimism with a gradual improvement in profitability since 2021. By 2023, the average Return on Assets (ROA) for the top 200 CEE banks reached 1.28%, while the average Return on Equity (ROE) was 11.5%. These figures represent a clear recovery and even surpass pre-pandemic levels, indicating a robust return to financial health.
Moreover, the ongoing consolidation in the banking sector suggests a future dominated by a handful of top players who will effectively control the CEE markets. This trend towards consolidation around leading groups like Erste, KBC, PKO Bank, OTP, UniCredit, and Raiffeisen is likely to enhance market stability and drive further growth.
For more information about developments in the banking sectors in CEE, please review the full publication.
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*CEE16 include: Poland, Czech Republic, Hungary, Slovak Republic, Romania, Bulgaria, Estonia, Latvia, Lithuania, Croatia, Slovenia, Serbia, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Albania, Montenegro and North Macedonia.
List of Top 200 banks in Central and Eastern Europe /2024 edition/