How important are foreign banks in the financial development of European transition countries?

Ilko Naaborg; Bert Scholtens; Jakob de Haan; Hanneke Bol; Ralph de Haas

This paper analyzes the development of the banking sector in European transition countries. We find that, although bank assets increased during the 1990s, credit to the private sector remained relatively low. Foreign-owned banks have become major players in the financial system of these countries. However, foreign bank presence and financial development in general vary considerably among the transition economies. Foreign-owned banks have, in general, higher profitability levels than domestic banks. Furthermore, it appears that foreign and domestic bank performance tend to converge.

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Year of publication:	2003
Authors:	Naaborg, Ilko ; Scholtens, Bert ; Haan, Jakob de ; Bol, Hanneke ; Haas, Ralph de
Publisher:	Munich : Center for Economic Studies and Ifo Institute (CESifo)
Subject:	financial development \| financial institutions \| foreign bank entry \| transition economies \| bank performance \| Internationale Bank \| International bank \| Finanzsektor \| Financial sector \| Systemtransformation \| Economic transition \| Bank \| Unternehmenserfolg \| Firm performance \| Osteuropa \| Eastern Europe \| 1995-2000