♦ In the last decade the profitability of assets (ROA) at the level of the Romanian banking system was predominantly over 1%, the highest levels being in the years 2023, 2024 and 2025, of 1.7%/1.8%♦ Comparative, the average profitability of the EU banks, of 0.7%, is less than half.
Banks seem to carry it well in difficult times, accommodating themselves to the context characterized by the slowdown of the economy, persistent inflation, still large interest and consistent deficits (to be adjusted), the gain of the banking system being unwavering. The last few years have brought historical maximums according to historical maximums for the Romanian banking system, including in terms of profits, which climbed 5-6-7-8 billion lei/year, so that in 2022 the winning system will exceed 10 billion lei, in 2023 to climb to 13.7 billion lei and in 2024 to reach a historical record of about 14.2 lei. And in the first quarter of 2025 the profit of the banks was 3.7 billion lei, comparable to the win of T1/2024, the banks digesting quite well and the additional tax on assets. These results came as a result of the strong ascension of the income of the banks in the conditions of the still high interest, while the lending continued, but with the brake drawn, especially on the segment of companies. The interest collected by banks on loans are the main source of profit. The (total) operational revenues at the level of the Romanian banking system reached almost 39 billion lei in 2024, exceeding the revenues of 2023. In view of the level of net profit and the income of the banks, a net margin of profit, that is, a share of the net profit in revenues of over 36% for the Romanian banking system. Comparatively, in insurance the net profit margin is only 5%. The return on assets (ROA) and capital profitability (ROE) in the Romanian banking system were at the end of March 2025 of 1.67%, respectively 18.2%, close to the levels of 2024. Regarding the evolution of the last decade we see that the profitability of the assets (ROA) at the level of the Romanian banking system was predominantly over 1%, the highest levels, 2024, 2024 1.7%/1.8%. Comparatively, the profitability of assets at the level of the Romanian banking system has been far above the average of the EU banks (0.7%,), in the last two years being more than double. Banks make good profits although the economy has practically stagnated in T1/2025, and lending has slowed down. GDP growth was only 0.2% per gross series compared to T1/2024. And the private lending registered in T1/2025 an average increase of about 9%. The NBR also notes that the indicator of return on assets at the level of the Romanian banking system, of 1.7%, is superior to the European average, of 0.7%.
The profitability of the Romanian banking system
14.2 billion lei was the net profit of the Romanian banking system in 2024; In T1/2025 the profit of the banks was 3.7 billion lei, comparable to the one from T1/2024.
39 billion lei were the operational revenues at the level of the Romanian banking system in 2024.
19.8 billion lei were the operational expenses at the banking system in 2024.
36 % represents the share of the net profit of the banking system.
18.4 % was the profitability of capital (ROE) in local banks in 2024.
1.7 % was the return on assets (ROA) at the level of the Romanian banking system in 2024.
0.7 % was the profitability of the average assets (ROA) of banks at the European Union level.
Data source: BNR
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