Nova Ljubljanska Banka
Nova Ljubljanska Banka (NLB) has won the award for the second year running, acknowledging its solid performance last year and its success in its goal to become a leading bank in the south and central European region.
Despite a sluggish European economy, last year the bank managed to grow net profit by 5% and assets by 14%. Its ROE stood at 17.5% and its cost-to-income ratio was a respectable 63%.
NLB’s aim to become a leader in the region was boosted by last year’s acquisition of Montenegrobanka in Montenegro and the procurement of a licence to open for business in Bulgaria. The bank is now on track to win a 15% share of the market in those regions.
In its home country, NBL holds 38% of Slovenian bank assets and 37% of customer loans. It retains the best credit rating of non-foreign owned banks in central and eastern Europe.
“NLB has experienced significant change in the past year with the business environment as challenging as it has been for some years – with increased competition and less favourable economic conditions. Against this background, NLB reported a solid performance,” said Marko Voljc, president of NLB’s management board.
