10 July 2024
Liechtenstein is a internationally recognised financial centre which offers well established corporate legal framework, robust banking legislation and political and economical stability with minimal bureaucracy and low tax rates. Traditionally specialized in providing international private banking, asset and wealth management services, Liechtenstein banks are investing heavily in digital transformation to offer its clients tailor-made services and to optimise their internal processes paying special attention to digital assets and blockchain banking. In particular, there are four banks in Liechtenstein authorized to perform crypto-related activities.
25 June 2024
The Bosnian banking sector bears resemblance to other Balkan countries: it is relatively compact, characterized by a limited number of banks focused on domestic retail and business banking, highly concentrated, and marked by substantial foreign capital presence. While primarily serving local customers, Bosnian banks also cater to international clients and offer a range of banking services in foreign currencies. IBAN system is used in Bosnia to identify accounts, facilitating international payments.
4 June 2024
Albanian banking sector exhibits characteristics typical of Eastern European countries: a relatively small size, a limited number of banks with diverse business focuses, a high degree of concentration, and a significant presence of foreign capital. While focused on domestic clientele, Albanian banks accept non-resident entities and offer banking products in foreign currencies. Albanian banks use the IBAN system to identify accounts, facilitating international payments.
14 February 2024
The Bulgarian banking sector is marked by its relatively modest scale, a limited number of banks with broad business scopes, a notable level of concentration, and a significant presence of foreign investment, aligning with patterns observed in other Eastern European nations. Recent mergers and acquisitions among key players have further intensified this concentration. Presently, the sector's landscape is dominated by five major banks, a reduction from seven just two years ago, collectively holding approximately 75% of the nation's total banking assets.
24 September 2023
Located in the center of Western Europe, Belgium is a high-income and well diversified economy. Belgian banking sector is broadly diversified not only in terms of international presense: provided products and services range from traditional for BeNeLux international private banking, asset and wealth management offered to individuals, business entities and institutions to modern investment banking, securities trading and custody services.
5 September 2023
Monaco is one of the world wealthiest nations in terms of GDP per capita withfinancial and insurance activities, being main contributors to its GDP. High concentration of high-net-worth individuals influences business focus of banks operating in Monaco: Monegasque banks traditionally specializes in providing private banking, asset and wealth management services.
26 April 2023
Located in Northern Europe, Estonia is a developed country with high-income economy. Estonian banking sector is relatively small, highly concentrated, with high share of foreign capital; large banks in Estonia operate as universal banks, covering a wide range of market segments, while smaller banks concentrate on a specific range of services.
15 January 2023
Romanian banking sector is characterized by rather small size, small number of banks with wide business focus, high degree of concentration and moderate share of foreign capital compared with other CEE countries. 4 major banks in Romania make up about 60% of total banking assets.
11 October 2022
Slovenia is a country located on the crossroads between the Balkans and Western Europe with a developed, service-oriented economy. Slovenian banking sector is relatively small, having a small number of banks with wide business focus, high degree of concentration and moderate share of foreign capital. Most of the banks operating in Slovenia are universal banks providing products and services in retail and business banking.
25 June 2021
Croatian banking sector is characterized by relatively small size, small number of banks with wide business focus, high degree of concentration and high share of foreign capital. 5 major banks in Croatia make up about 85% of total banking assets.
3 June 2021
Since the 1980s Malta has followed a strategy of developing a financial services centre and over the last decade has transformed its banking sector from a tightly controlled publicly owned sector to the diversified and efficiently regulated one with high degree of liberalization and foreign ownership.
12 May 2021
Banking sector of Montenegro is relatively small, dominated by banks with wide business focus, high degree of concentration and high share of foreign capital. 3 largest banks in Montenegro make up about 50% of total banking assets.
8 October 2020
Located in the center of Western Europe, Luxembourg is a high-income, well diversified economy and a world financial center. Banking landscape of Luxembourg is broadly diversified not only in terms of international presense, but also in terms of provided products and services which range from traditional for Luxembourg international private banking, asset and wealth management offered to individuals, business entities and institutions to modern investment banking, securities trading and custody services emerged with the development of IT industry.
11 February 2020
Strategic location of Gibraltar, its favorable taxation regime, European standards of regulation make Gibraltar an attractive destination for international investors. Banking sector traditionally dominated by British banks and focused on international private banking services is now extending to new business areas like digital wealth management and innovative payment infrastructure services.
19 May 2017
The Channel Islands are a group of islands situated in the English Channel, consisting of two British Crown dependencies: the Bailiwick of Jersey and the Bailiwick of Guernsey. Over the recent decades, banks have played a key role in the development of the Channel Islands as an international financial centre.
