PKO Bank Polski, Poland’s largest bank by assets, is set to begin its operations in Romania from early next year. The Polish banking giant’s entry into the Romanian market is driven by the record profitability rates of banks in Romania. In Romania, PKO will exclusively work with corporate clients (SMEs and large companies). The bank will also facilitate financial operations for Polish companies and other international clients looking to start or already operating in the country. PKO Bank Polski has confirmed to wall-street.ro that it will kick off operational activities at its Romanian branch in early 2024. The bank’s attraction to the Romanian market is fueled by the fact that financial institutions in Romania have the highest return on equity (ROE) within the European Union. Compared to Polish banks, Romanian players exhibit double the ROE. “The Romanian banking sector is predominantly owned by European foreign capital banking groups, with almost 70% of the market. The profitability in the Romanian banking market is also high, as demonstrated by the ROE. Romania has consistently ranked among the top countries in the European Union in this regard,” stated representatives from PKO Bank Polski. PKO Bank Polski will not serve individual customers, but aims to assist Polish companies Polish companies have a significant presence in Romania, with over 1,200 firms operating in the market. Representatives from PKO Bank Polski have expressed their desire to act as a bridge between the Romanian market and Polish companies seeking to enter Romania. “We have been monitoring the Romanian market for some time now. Romania’s economy is growing rapidly. Many Polish companies are already investing in the Romanian market, and for some, Romania has become a second home market. The Romanian branch will focus on providing banking services to companies. Currently, the bank has no plans to enter the retail banking sector in the Romanian market. Our main goal is to be the top choice for leading Polish firms and SMEs. Of the top 10 banks in Romania based on asset levels, eight have no presence in the Polish market. This presents an opportunity for PKO Bank to bridge the economies of both countries,” emphasized representatives from PKO Bank. PKO Bank Polski expressed its interest in entering the Romanian market in late 2021, as per the Registry of Credit Institutions published by the National Bank of Romania (BNR). Representatives of the Polish bank noted that the banking regulatory requirements in Poland differ from those imposed by the BNR.
Several archaeological pieces from the Dacia - Empire of Gold and Silver exhibition showcasing Dacian treasures from Romania have been stolen after an explosion at the Drents Museum in the Netherlands on the night of January 24 to 25. Among them, the famous golden Helmet of Coțofenești, c.a. 450 BC, which belonged to the National […]
In European offices, there is a steadily growing interest in spaces that are not only beneficial to productive work but also reflect a modern approach to ergonomics and aesthetics. Romania is also part of this trend, with more and more companies investing in modern offices that combine functionality with exceptional design. In this article, we'll […]
By Ambassador Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary Permanent Representative to the Council of Europe, Dr. Ion I. Jinga Strasbourg, January 2025 Motto: “Precedents in history can furnish no other light than that of beacons, which give warning on the course to be shunned, without pointing out that which ought to be pursued.” Alexander Hamilton, Founding […]
A technical evaluation mission of the Secretariat of the Corporate Governance Committee of the Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development (OECD) took place on January 20-23 at the General Secretariat of the Government (SGG).According to SGG, the major objective of the mission was to analyse and evaluate the implementation by Romania, as a candidate state, […]
The state budget deficit forecast for 2025 has increased to the average value of expectations of 7.3% of GDP and economic growth expectations are at the average value of 1.3%, according to the estimates of analysts from the CFA Romania Association.Public debt calculated as a percentage of GDP is expected to increase to 57% in […]
New orders in the manufacturing industry increased by 2.7%, in nominal terms, overall (domestic and foreign markets), between January 1 and November 30, 2024, compared to the same period in 2023, according to data published on Thursday by the National Institute of Statistics (INS).In the same period, the evolution of new orders in the manufacturing […]
