The report covers developments in Serbia’s banking sector over the period April 11, 2015 – April 8, 2016. It includes, among others, discussion of sector-level indicators, market news, as well as detailed financial information for the three largest banks - Banca Intesa Beograd, Komercijalna Banka Beograd and Unicredit Bank Srbija.

All 14 participating banks passed a Special Diagnostic Studies (SDS) exercise, essentially an Asset Quality Review (AQR) programme that was undertaken in line with similar initiatives in many EU countries. The SDS adjusted capital ratios for all in-scope banks were above the regulatory minimum of 12%. In August, the central bank adopted an action plan for executing a government strategy for resolving non-performing loans (NPLs) in the banking sector.

M&A activity in Serbia’s banking sector included the acquisition of KBM Banka by two Serbian businessmen. The seller was Slovenia’s Nova Kreditna banka Maribor (NKBM) and the deal was signed in February. In January, Serbian lender AIK banka has acquired a 13.9% stake in Slovenia's Gorenjska banka. In June, Hungary’s OTP Bank signed an agreement to acquire the Serbian unit of Italy’s Findomestic Banca. Furthermore, the majority shareholders boosted their stakes in local Banca Intesa Beograd, Cacanska banka (renamed Halkbank Beograd) and AIK Banka.

Banks covered in the report include, among others, Banca Intesa Beograd, Komercijalna banka Beograd, Unicredit Bank Srbija, KBM Banka, AIK banka, ProCredit Bank Beograd, MIRABANK Beograd, Halkbank Beograd (formerly Cacanska banka), Sberbank Srbija, Telenor banka, Eurobank Beograd, Findomestic banka and Societe Generale banka Srbija.


Key points:
• Total gross assets of Serbia’s commercial banking sector increased by 3.7% to RSD3.43 trillion (€28.2bn) at end-2015
• Total loans to companies (excluding public enterprises) and households rose by a nominal 3.3% to RSD1.75 trillion at end-2015
• Total corporate and household deposits increased by 7.1% to RSD1.72 trillion
• The ratio of NPLs in total loans (gross principle) was 22.3% in November
• The capital adequacy ratio of Serbia’s banking sector was around 20% in November