Romanian banks post strong H1 profit and warn of recession risks

Raiffeisen Bank Romania reported a net profit of 849 million lei for the first half of 2026, driven by a 44 % rise in new retail customers, a 29 % increase in its investment‑loan portfolio and a 10 % growth in total assets to 91.8 billion lei. Deposits rose 7 % year‑on‑year, with retail savings accounts gaining a larger share of liabilities.

Banca Transilvania CEO Ömer Tetik said Romania could avoid a severe recession despite external shocks such as the war in Ukraine and tensions in the Middle East. He highlighted the economy’s resilience, the need for investment in infrastructure, energy, digitalisation and education, and warned that public debt and high interest rates remain challenges.

Both banks emphasise the importance of confidence and stable macro‑economic conditions for sustaining growth in the Romanian financial sector.