Banking and financial regulation in the Balkans

Financial regulations and banking practices in the Balkan region have seen various developments regarding consumer protection and institutional requirements.

In Montenegro, proposed amendments to the Consumer Credit Law aim to strengthen creditworthiness assessments by requiring banks to evaluate income and expenses rather than just credit history. The draft legislation also seeks to prevent over-indebtedness by mandating debt negotiations before forced collection and granting consumers the right to human intervention in automated credit assessments.

In Croatia, the Croatian National Bank (HNB) is raising the countercyclical capital buffer rate to 2.25 percent by October 2027 to address financial stability concerns amid rising real estate prices. Separately, Raiffeisen Bank Austria announced increased monthly fees for various banking packages and digital services, effective October 31, 2026, citing higher operating and technology costs.

In Bosnia and Herzegovina, legal frameworks continue to govern the seizure of wages and pensions. Under the Law on Enforcement Proceedings of the Federation of BiH, enforcement on monthly income is capped at one-half for amounts under 1,000 KM and up to two-thirds for higher amounts, while minimum or guaranteed pensions are limited to one-third of the total.