Challenges and potential for banks in the region

Wim Mijs, chief executive officer of the European Banking Federation, was in Greece this week to take part in the Balkans and Black Sea Cooperation Forum in Serres. The federation unites 32 national banking associations in Europe, representing some 4,500 banks. Mijs, who moderated a panel on the digital economy and innovation, and spoke on a panel on women in leadership, took time to talk to Kathimerini English Edition. The discussion ranged from the potential and challenges for banks in Greece and the broader region to how banking across Europe was affected by the crisis that broke out in 2008 and the measures that have been taken to prevent a repeat of this.

On the issue of nonperforming loans, Mijs commented: "There is no doubt that Europe needs to somehow deal with this portfolio of NPLs. Not only in Greece but also in Italy and Portugal and other countries." He added, ...