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.
IVF clinic Embryos, majority-owned by investment firm Integral Capital Group, has acquired the Oradea-based Calla Infertility Diagnostic and Treatment Center. The move is part of the development strategy of the network Embryos, which started in 2025 with the opening of a clinic in Buzău and the acquisition of Adella Clinic in Sofia, Bulgaria. The turnover […]
Romania has 56 companies included in the 17th edition of the Coface CEE Top 500 ranking, which shows how the largest companies in the region are navigating the current business landscape. The country climbed two positions from last year but remains underrepresented. The companies are ranked by turnover, analyzing additional indicators such as workforce size, business […]
Romania's Instant Factoring announced its participation in a cross-border securitization transaction valued at up to EUR 30 million. The move, the company said, "opens a new stage of growth for both Romanian fintech and the alternative financing market in Romania and Spain." The transaction involved the establishment of a securitization fund - Instant Factoring 2025-I, […]
Meta Estate Trust, a holding company active in the real estate sector and listed on the Bucharest Stock Exchange (BVB) under the symbol MET, announced that it signed the mandate agreement with its new Chief Executive Officer (CEO), Dan Petrișor. The appointment decision was made by the Board of Directors on October 31, and the […]
Former star coach Emerich Jenei, one for Romania's best, passed away on November 5, 2025, at the age of 88. He achieved the greatest performance of Romanian football: winning the European Champions Cup with Steaua București on May 7, 1986, in Seville, in the famous final against F.C. Barcelona. Emeric Alexandru Ienei (Imre Sándor Jenei) […]
Renting is steadily becoming more common in Romania, as access to credit becomes increasingly difficult. As such, even though rents traditionally tend to decrease in October, this year they have kept steadily increasing in most major cities. Traditionally, the demand for rentals increases in August and September, when students return to the major university cities. […]
