Balija: The banking sector is stable, banks with profits of over 85 million euros

The Executive Director of Kosovo Banking Association, Petrit Balija in an interview with Telegrafi,
with journalist Lulzim Ahmeti, said the banking system is stable. According to him, the banking
sector performance for 2017 has been quite positive, marking increase while banks had profits
of 85.3 million euros. Balija says investments that are being made in crypto currencies are
dangerous. "The performance of the banking sector for 2017 has been quite positive, a stable
growth in every aspect, starting from lending which has risen by 12 percent, then we have had
an increase in assets and an increase in profit, which at the end of this year is close to 85.3
million euros, "said Balija. According to him, banks' profits are rising at this time when banks'
earnings are stable and there is no revenue growth. "If we make a comparison with 2012, the
banks' income was higher than in 2017 for close to 7 million euros, or 247 million euros in gross
income, while profit was 18 million euros. In 2017, we have a drop in total revenues, while we
have a gain in profit, "he explains. Speaking of bad loans, the Executive Director of Kosovo Banking Association
 Petrit Balija said the level of these loans was with the countries of the
European Union and significantly better than in the countries of the region. He also talked about
the inefficiency of the justice system, which is damaging the banking system. In addition,
Director Balija has shown how the association aims to increase electronic payments and cash
withdrawal.