Financial Services And Country Risk

Importantly, to attract new customers, foreign banks will make their reputation in the region by addressing several areas (retail banking, asset management ...) and extending their geographical coverage, in contrast to local, often focused on a number few countries. This strategy requires a deployment capitalizing on existing settlements, focusing on synergies (sharing of customer data ...), and market knowledge already acquired with the risks, a decisive element in the investment decision.


Indeed, Central Europe in particular differs from other popular markets like China and India by showing a mainly political and economic situation almost stabilized. Of course some main regulatory obstacles remain, like the restrictions governing credit growth, to inhibit growth in net banking income. Also binding regulations set by some central banks in the region often impose bureaucratic processes. Also, banks will have to deal with financial transparency may be limited, to understand the economic health of their third example.

However, the states of Central Europe, mostly integrated into the EU, should be quickly put in line with European standards and guidelines and promote the establishment of foreign banks. Their alignment of means of payment or accounting standards is remarkable.

Still, the disparities within the region persist. Some states of Eastern Europe have large current account deficits and political instability, like the Balkans. Therefore, it is questionable whether these countries will be able to follow the path of the "leading countries" such as Slovenia, Hungary or the Czech Republic and converge to a stable market economy and conducive to the rapid emergence of financial services. From this perspective, Europe is undoubtedly a great ally.

Financial Services

Consequently, the CEECs converge progressively towards consumption standards similar to those observed in Western Europe and reveal a proven potential for banking services. Although over 80% in Croatia or the Czech Republic, the rate remains low in most countries of the area, such as Romania, Bulgaria or Ukraine. As proof, the share of deposits to GDP stagnated in the latter State to 23% in 2005 against 90% for the euro area. Initiated fewer than twenty years, the transition from a de facto demonetized from Soviet pattern and a market economy is new and explains the low level of banking services. Therefore the CEEC are in a learning phase of the "bank" and the concepts and mechanisms inherent in the savings and credit, in a context marked by the absence of national champions or at local banks reference.

Thus, despite the rise of some local industry the development opportunities are real and evidenced by the growing demand for consumer credit or to the habitat. In addition to the benefits of the wave of privatizations, banking and investment also benefits from the financing needs of state and local governments under-equipped and is involved in the emergence of large industrial groups in the region.


To exploit these opportunities and differentiate themselves from their local competitors, foreign banks can rely on better product knowledge, particularly in private banking, where financial engineering is growing rapidly. The increased standard of living behind the rapid growth of the CEECs argues for a broader offering to meet increased need for diversified products, at least in the country’s most bank accounts or may become a near horizon. Meanwhile, banks will have to segment their offer and better distinguish the customers 'standards' of "tributaries" in particular financing. In this context, a solid local employee is no longer a luxury. They will have to learn to build a trusting relationship with customers, whose perception of banks is still mixed. The practice of clear and transparent pricing and secure banking will improve this perception.