The European Investment Bank has published the results of a survey on bank lending in the Central and South Eastern Europe (CEE) region for the second half of 2025, which show a stable demand for loans, an expected improvement in supply and the plans of most cross-border banking groups to expand operations.
Banks in Central and South Eastern Europe (CEE) report improving trends, with demand for loans remaining stable, particularly among businesses.
After a period of decline, banks expect a slight improvement in loan supply, which could reduce the gap between high demand and the hitherto limited supply.
In particular, the growth of interest in lending to small and medium-sized enterprises and in consumer loans is highlighted, while at the same time there is a lower willingness to approve loans to large enterprises and mortgage loans.
The survey on bank lending in the SIJIE region for the second half of 2025, conducted by the European Investment Bank and presented at the CEE Forum 2026 in Vienna, shows that two-thirds of the cross-border banking groups that were surveyed about future long-term plans intend to expand their operations in the region.
In Bosnia and Herzegovina, the demand for loans maintained a positive trend, while the terms of the offer tightened further.
In the next six months, similar conditions are expected on the demand side, while supply conditions are expected to remain unchanged, with continued improvement in credit quality and liquidity conditions.
EIB Vice President Marek Mora pointed out that the latest research confirms the resilience and great potential of the banking sector in Central, Eastern and Southeastern Europe. He emphasized that the demand for loans remains stable, that supply conditions show signs of improvement, and that the quality of loans has been increasing over the last six months.
According to him, these trends are encouraging for investment and economic development in the region, and the fact that two thirds of the banks present in SIJIE plan to increase their long-term credit exposure is considered a strong signal of potential for growth. The EIB, which complements the efforts of commercial banks, intends to continue helping to overcome market failures and achieve European Union policy priorities.
The announcement states that the market potential in SIJEE countries is generally considered significant. Most of the surveyed banks rate it as high, especially in countries such as the Czech Republic, Romania and Slovakia, or as medium, especially in the markets of the Western Balkans. The profitability of operations in Central, Eastern and Southeastern Europe remains high compared to the overall operations of banking groups, and particularly good results are achieved in Bosnia and Herzegovina, Bulgaria, the Czech Republic, Hungary, North Macedonia and Kosovo.
EIB Chief Economist Debora Revoltella emphasized that the results of the survey clearly indicate very positive credit trends for banks operating in the SIJIE area, and that they benefit from favorable developments in the global and European banking sector. At the same time, she warned that various factors, both domestic and international, including regulatory changes, continue to burden the terms of the loan offer in the region.
According to the survey findings, access to financing in SIJIE countries for cross-border banking groups and their subsidiaries has remained good over the past six months, and further improvement is expected.
This positive expectation is based on the growth of household and company deposits, as well as on continuous access to financing from international financial institutions, including the EIB. The quality of loans continued to improve, with a decrease in the share of non-performing loans, which was particularly pronounced in the segment of retail and corporate clients. However, banks remain cautious about the next half-year and expect the possibility of loan quality deterioration.
The European Investment Bank is an institution of the European Union in charge of long-term lending and is owned by member states. The focus of its work is eight key priorities, and the EIB finances investments that contribute to the achievement of EU policy goals by encouraging action in the field of climate and environment, digitalization and technological innovation, security and defense, cohesion, agriculture and bioeconomy, social infrastructure, capital market union and strengthening the role of Europe in a more peaceful and prosperous world.
The EIB Group also includes the European Investment Fund, and in 2024, new allocations in the amount of almost EUR 89 billion were contracted for more than 900 projects with a high impact, which further strengthened the competitiveness and security of Europe.
The statement reminds that the EIB twice a year conducts a survey on bank lending in the countries of Central, Eastern and Southeastern Europe, including 12 international banking groups and 65 local branches or independent banks, which together make up more than half of banking assets in most SIJEE countries. Contact persons for additional information, as well as photos of the EIB headquarters and additional materials are available to the media via the official website, it says. Klix.
