High NPL levels, an economy in need of de-dollarisation and the prominence of state-owned institutions are behind moves to consolidate and improve Belarus's banking sector. However, as Stefanie Linhardt reports, the pace of change is not as fast as some had hoped.

With International Bank of Azerbaijan’s debt restructuring pushed through, the country can now begin focusing on addressing the roots of its problems. But the task of finding ways to grow its economy with less reliance on oil will not be easy, as Michael Turner reports.

The restructuring of indebted retail giant Agrokor shook Croatia earlier in 2017, but central bank governor Boris Vujčić tells Stefanie Linhardt that the country's economy is still on course for growth, though some banks could take a hit on their profit sheets.

Russia's central bank governor talks to Stefanie Linhardt about how the country is reaching its inflation targets, why its international reserves have been rising, what impact low interest rates have had, and why Russia's banking sector is now in a stable position.

Post Bank is going against the grain with plans to hold a total of 18,000 branches across Russia within two years. The lender is using legacy outlets from its Leto Bank and Russian Post origins to increase its reach, with a low-cost model that mixes ATMs and mobile transactions. Stefanie Linhardt reports.

As the man at the top of Russia’s biggest bank, Sberbank president and chief executive Herman Gref, presides over an institution with ambitious long-term fintech plans. He talks to Stefanie Linhardt about the challenges to its overseas operations and dealing with the fallout from the rouble’s collapse.

As the Russian economy recovers, the new equilibrium brings fresh challenges to the financial sector. Stefanie Linhardt finds out how the management at many of the country's leading banks are adapting to this environment at the International Financial Congress in St Petersburg.

As Russia contemplates a restructuring of its creaking pensions system, investors expect a positive effect on the securities market with the introduction of private individual pension capital accounts. However, the market is still immature and many decisions on reform are still to be made. Stefanie Linhardt reports from the International Financial Congress (IFC) in St Petersburg. 

Lenders in the EU's Top 250 Banks ranking have seen an aggregate drop in profits and Tier 1 capital, though Austria's banking sector managed to reverse this trend. Stefanie Linhardt reports.