CEE banking outlook 2025
The study was prepared jointly with EMIS, a leading curator of multi-sector, multi-country research for the world’s fastest growing markets. The extensive analysis reveals how banks across Central and Eastern Europe (CEE) have combined profitability, strong capitalisation and rapid digitalisation to become key players in Europe’s financial landscape.
Covering six core markets, Croatia, the Czech Republic, Hungary, Poland, Romania and Slovakia, the study provides a panoramic view of the sector’s evolution through data, regulatory insight and digital transformation trends. The report also underlines how the CEE region navigated one of its most turbulent inflationary cycles in decades.
“The CEE banking sector has evolved from a story of convergence to one of leadership. With strong profitability, prudent supervision and a clear focus on digital and regulatory transformation, banks in our region are showing that strategic resilience is not just a concept but a measurable and competitive advantage,” Małgorzata Pek, Partner and Financial Services Leader, Forvis Mazars in CEE.
We are enteringan era where regulatory and supervisory pressures will shape banks’ competitiveness across regions. Global fragmentation on AI, digital finance and third-party risk will have major implications for digital transformation. Banks that anticipate these shifts and adapt early will lead. This means building transparency, resilience and robust AI governance - staying aligned with Europe’s rules while strengthening technology and risk capabilities,” Eric Cloutier, Group Head of Banking Regulations and Head of the Global Financial Services Regulatory Centre (RegCentre), Forvis Mazars.
Resilient performance in a volatile environment
Despite economic volatility, banks in CEE have remained among the most resilient in Europe. The report attributes these outcomes to strong prudential supervision, conservative capital buffers and an increasingly sophisticated regulatory culture across the region. Together, these factors have allowed banks to navigate post-pandemic inflationary shocks and global uncertainty while maintaining sustainable growth trajectories.
Digital transformation
The adoption of artificial intelligence, no-code platforms and hybrid cloud systems has become a cornerstone of operational strategy, with leading institutions investing heavily in automation and data-driven innovation. This shows a significant section of the wave of digital transformation reshaping the CEE banking industry.
Securitisation and capital efficiency
Beyond digital transformation, the study reveals how securitisation is evolving from a compliance requirement into a key driver of business expansion. CEE banks have increasingly participated in this growth through transactions in Poland, the Czech Republic, Slovakia and Bulgaria.
Future outlook
Looking ahead, the report points to new supervisory priorities that will shape how banks plan and respond - such as climate and geopolitical risks, ESG principles and foreseen challenges.
