Latest articles from Central & Eastern Europe

Can Slovenia avoid a bail out?

Slovenia top 10 banks by assets, 2011

The need for a multilateral bail out of eurozone member Slovenia will depend on the state of its troubled banking sector, which lost a significant proportion of its capital in 2011.

Deals of the Year 2013

Investment banking fees down across Europe

Despite contracting investment banking fees in Europe, Turkey, Slovakia and Croatia have bucked the trend with impressive growth.

The future of mobile money

The future of mobile money

Mobile money, including banking and payments, is encroaching into the everyday life of the consumer. Monetising the business is still proving difficult, but thanks to the abundance of products available already, tangible business models are slowly emerging.

Technology drives Russian retail banking revolution

Technology drives Russian retail banking revolution

Growth rates and returns on consumer lending in Russia are remarkable, but the market demands increasing levels of sophistication to ensure success.

Boyko Borisov

Tough road ahead for Bulgaria's banks

The Bulgarian banking sector has not needed government assistance in the wake of the financial crisis, but its slow growth rates and high non-performing loans do not make an inspiring combination.

Bankers wait for reform in Ukraine

Bankers wait for reform in Ukraine

The management quality of Ukrainian banks is gradually improving, but they continue to face difficulties from legal and political uncertainty, with some foreign-owned banks already giving up the struggle.

Foreign banks outperform locals in Russia

Foreign banks in Russia - top 10 by return on assets

A number of foreign banks scaled back operations in Russia after the financial crisis, but those that remain are generating very high returns in many cases.

Spain’s prime minister Mariano Rajoy and Hungary’s prime minister Viktor Orban

Transformation continues for European sovereign-linked issuers

The European Central Bank has helped assuage fears of an imminent eurozone breakup, but sovereign, supranational and agency debt management officials must still contend with ratings downgrades and difficult political and fiscal situations in a number of countries. The Banker hears from a range of EU issuers both inside and outside the eurozone.

High spirits: since being elected in October 2012, Georgia’s prime minister, Bidzina Ivanishvili, and his Georgian Dream coalition have been committed to improving the country’s international relations

Georgia's banks remain unshaken by political uncertainty

As the political stand-off in Georgia between the new prime minister and president shows no sign of abating, the country’s economy is showing resilience and its banks are eyeing opportunities to strengthen growth by tapping into the country's unbanked population.