Credit Activity of Foreign-Owned Banks in CESEE

Abstract

In this chapter we analyse the credit activity of banks in the CESEE countries, with special attention paid to the foreign-owned banks. We start our empirical analysis with the determinants of the credit growth, focusing next on the procyclicality of credit activities. Foreign-owned banks are analysed against the background of other banks operating in CESEE, with the distinction of domestic-owned, state-owned, and owned by development banks, including other non-bank financial institutions. Moreover, the credit activity of banks opens the door to a further analysis of financial stability and economic growth because bank credit is regarded as an important determinant of both of them.