Skopje, 23 December 2024 

Central banks have taken macroprudential measures, such as countercyclical capital buffer, thus helping the banking system to cope with economic challenges. They have also played a key role in preserving financial stability in a complex global environment surrounded by uncertainties.

These are some of the messages sent by the National Bank Governor, Anita Angelovska Bezhoska, and the Bank of Slovenia Governor, Boštjan Vasle, in a meeting held at the National Bank.

Governor Angelovska Bezhoska emphasized that during the crises, the banking system resilience, which has been continuously providing credit support to the economy throughout this period, has not only been preserved, but has also further strengthened.

"Capital adequacy, as the main parameter of the banking system stability, currently stands at around 19%, hitting the record high in the last 16 years, along with the stable and solid liquidity and the good credit portfolio quality. This shows that the banking system has the capacity to provide support for economic growth, investment in particular. The maturity and currency structures as well as bank deposits have recorded positive changes, seen through the significant growth of long-term deposits and savings in denars, which are recording double-digit growth. This is also an indicator of the public confidence in the banking system and in the policies pursued by the central bank", said Governor Angelovska Bezhoska.  

As part of the visit to the National Bank, the Governor of Bank of Slovenia, Boštjan Vasle, gave a presentation on the „Recent Developments in the Banking Sector and the Way Forward“ to representatives of banks and regulators in the country.

“Banks in the euro area and Slovenia have been performing very well recently, achieving high profitability ratios similar to those of North Macedonian banks, along with historically favorable asset quality indicators. Banks are generally well capitalized and maintain solid liquidity. Their favorable position reflects the strengthening and unification of banking regulation and supervision in the euro area, enhancements to macroprudential policy frameworks, and significant support from monetary and fiscal policies during the pandemic and the energy crisis. However, European banks face longer-term challenges related to their business models, digitalization, and increasing competition from nonbanks”, said Governor Vasle

Governor Angelovska Bezhoska and Governor Vasle emphasized that despite the favorable macro environment this year, there are risks and uncertainties mainly associated with the external environment and the impact of the geopolitical turmoil and geoeconomic fragmentation, with central banks remaining prudential in pursuing macroprudential policies, as a support for strengthening financial stability in the period ahead.