Romania's banking system boasts impressive liquidity and growth figures

The Romanian banking system has reported some of the most solid liquidity indicators in the European Union, setting a standard for stability in the region. At the end of last year, the total assets of the Romanian banking system reached 996.1 billion lei, reflecting an impressive growth of 8.8%. This growth is accompanied by a net profit of 15.4 billion lei and a remarkable return on equity of 17.6%, well above the European average of 20.4%.

The ratio of costs to income in the Romanian banking sector stands at 48.9%, which is significantly better than the European average of 51%. Furthermore, the ratio of loans to deposits is 66.2%, whereas the European average is 104.8%. This solid performance underscores the resilience and efficiency of Romanian banks in a challenging economic landscape.

In the broader context, retail banks across Europe ended 2025 with a 3% increase in revenues and a 6% rise in operational profit. However, the costs for European banks also rose by 6.2% during the same period. Notably, net interest income for European banks has surged by 27.3% per client from 2021 to 2026, with countries like France and the UK seeing increases of about 14% and 12%, respectively.

As the banking landscape evolves, there is a clear shift towards models built around fees, particularly in the Nordic countries, Belgium, and Poland, where revenue growth from fees has approached 10%. To adapt to future challenges, Strategy& has laid out a comprehensive plan for 2030 that emphasizes diversified revenue streams from fees and taxes, a complete transition to digital sales, the adoption of artificial intelligence, and preparation for AI agents.

Digitization is crucial as it creates a more complex risk profile for banks, with incidents such as cyberattacks potentially triggering rapid deposit withdrawals. Therefore, enhanced supervision of banks will be necessary moving forward. Overall, the Romanian banking sector is well-positioned for future growth while navigating the complexities of a changing financial environment.