The ongoing dispute over the sovereignty of the Ukrainian republic of Crimea, which is currently occupied by Russian forces, has wreaked havoc in its financial sector, with many banks pulling out of the region and depositors unable to access their funds.
Central & eastern Europe
Latest articles from Central & eastern Europe
Warsaw top for financial services FDI in CEE
May 1, 2014The Polish capital Warsaw was the leading destination in central and eastern Europe for financial services FDI, with Russian capital Moscow ranking a distant second.
Top Black Sea banks ranking, 2014: Asset quality risks rising
May 1, 2014Several of the members of the Organisation of the Black Sea Economic Co-operation are facing rising asset impairment, but the reasons vary.
Poland's banks take own paths to growth
April 17, 2014Poland’s banks are all about growth in 2014. And while some prefer to grow organically, others are opting for mergers and acquisitions. However, a series of stress-tests and the fragmented nature of the country's banking environment means that some may face difficult hurdles in the coming months and years.
M&A – the missing piece of the regulatory puzzle
March 24, 2014The regulation of the global financial sector should be extended to include intensive monitoring of merger and acquisition deals, which are a key source of instability.
Macedonia: big progress in a small country
March 24, 2014Zoran Stavreski is Macedonia's deputy prime minister and minister of finance. Here he shares his views on his country’s economic outlook and prospects for EU membership with Brian Caplen.
Mapping Ukraine banking exposure
March 21, 2014
Some western European banks have pulled out of Ukraine in recent years, but Russian players are among the most exposed to the country’s troubles.
EU effect fails to ignite Croatia
March 3, 2014EU accession was meant to bolster Croatia’s economic prospects, but it is yet to have a positive effect on the country's flagging economy. Meanwhile, its banks are facing poor asset quality and a difficult operating environment.
Latvia: in the eurozone but not out of trouble
February 3, 2014With a deadline looming for the privatisation of state-owned Citadele, and the country's accession to the eurozone likely to squeeze profits in the banking sector, 2014 looks set to be a year of challenges for Latvia.
Leveraged finance goes local for SG CIB in the Czech Republic
February 3, 2014Société Générale CIB arranged a record large loan for PPF Group to buy out Telefonica's Czech subsidiary, and found plentiful liquidity in local currency.