TIRANA, December 18 /ATA/ Governor of the Bank of Albania Gent Sejko stated that during 2025 the Central Bank has consolidated further its role as a guarantor of monetary and financial stability, acting with caution and responsibility in an environment marked by external uncertainties and internal developments.
In his speech at the end-of-year event of the Albanian Association of Banks, Sejko emphasized that the careful normalization of monetary policy has enabled the stabilization of inflation, without harming economic growth and financial stability. According to him, the banking system has played a key role in the effective reflection of monetary policy, contributing to Albania simultaneously registering low inflation, sustainable economic growth and credit expansion.
The Governor said that the Albanian economy is expected to grow by around 4% during 2025, which means more employment, higher wages and increased income for families and businesses. He highlighted the fact that public and external debt have declined further, reaching the lowest levels in the last three decades, while the financial balances of households and businesses appear solid.
According to Sejko, the banking sector continues to dominate the financial system with around 91% of total assets, remaining stable and with positive parameters. The capital adequacy ratio reached 20.2%, significantly above the regulatory minimum, while the quality of the loan portfolio remained good, at 4.3%. Lending increased by around 14–15% compared to 2024, while customer deposits reached 1.652 billion lekë.
The governor also positively assessed progress in the modernization of the financial system, especially in the field of electronic payments, highlighting the important steps towards Albania's integration into the Single Euro Payments Area (SEPA). He stressed that digitalization, improving the payment infrastructure and approximation of the regulatory framework with European Union standards have increased consumer supervision and protection.
Speaking about the year 2026, Sejko emphasized the significance of investments in innovation and cybersecurity, support for productive sectors and small and medium-sized businesses, as well as the social role of the banks in financial education, financial inclusion and green finance. He also underlined the significance of the banking sector's cooperation within the framework of the FSAP 2026 assessment process by the IMF and the World Bank.
In conclusion, the Governor assured that the Bank of Albania will continue to rigorously exercise its supervisory and regulatory function, guaranteeing a stable, competitive and transparent banking system, in the service of the country's economic development. /e.xh/j.p/p.s./
