CEE Banking M&A Study 2021

CEE banks steering through the pandemic - Accelerated consolidation triggered by COVID-19 turbulence

We are introducing our 4th CEE Banking M&A Study, analyzing and summarizing mergers and acquisitions in the banking sector and the current market trends within the Central and Eastern European region.

DOWNLOAD THE STUDY

CEE Banking M&A Study

We are happy to hereby release the 4th edition of our CEE banking M&A study.

The main factor shaping the CEE banking trends in the previous year was the COVID-19 pandemic which challenged the CEE banking sector unprecedently since the 2008 financial crisis. Despite last year’s alarming prognoses the CEE banking sector showed resilience with solid capital positions and relatively stable asset quality and maintained a profitable operation. Furthermore, despite the negative effects of the pandemic the consolidation accelerated, and 2020 was an especially active year on the CEE banking M&A market. For more information on the CEE Banking M&A transactions and the latest market trends, download our annual study.

DOWNLOAD THE STUDY

Banking trends in CEE

Owing to the solid capital position, the CEE banking sector managed to maintain robust lending activity and still profitable operations in 2020.

M&A activities

The pandemic did not retract the CEE region’s M&A activity, on the contrary the highest number of banking M&A deals were reported in 2020 since 2016 in the region.

Evolution of NPL metrics

The pandemic has not yet had a significant negative effect on the asset quality, however as the moratoriums are phasing out in the region the asset quality might deteriorate in certain industries.