The world is confronted by tough times, but with every challenge comes an opportunity. With that in mind, NLB Bank AD Podgorica is ready to face possible calamities and support its clients
We are feeling the impact of the economic crisis, but our clients and our bank are well prepared, says NLB Bank AD Podgorica President of the Management Board Martin Leberle. However, 2023 will be a challenging year by all accounts.
How much did the arrival in Montenegro of investors from countries threatened by the Russian war against Ukraine change the structure of investments in the country; How do you, as MFIC members, welcome these changes?
– Every crisis contains chances. The global disruption relates not only to the war Russia brought to Ukraine, but also to changes in worldwide supply chains during and after the pandemic and the demand of European producers to nearshore their suppliers. Montenegro has so far missed out on the chance to attract those projects and investments on a larger scale. International investors seek stability and transparency in terms of business rules, and especially when it comes to the rule of law. Here I see great upside potential and opportunities for Montenegro.
A few months after winning the award of financial magazine Euromoney as the “Best Bank in Montenegro”, NLB Banka AD Podgorica received another annual recognition from The Banker. How challenging is it to maintain such a position while thinking ambitiously about future successes?
– I call the awards that we received in 2022 the “Bankers Grand Slam”, when the financial journalists of the independent Euromoney and Financial Times juries recognised our efforts and successes in a very small but competitive market!
International investors seek stability and transparency in terms of business rules, and especially when it comes to the rule of law. Here I see great upside potential and opportunities for Montenegro
It is never easy to be “the best” and I’m sure our competitors will try to catch up with us, but that is the nature of the competition that drives our motivation to become better every day. Ultimately, it is the client alone who decides who’s the best, and with our team we are always hungry to satisfy our clients’ needs both today and also tomorrow. Unlike the previous financial crises, which hit the banking sector hard, this latest one hasn’t shaken banks to date.
In your opinion, what is the most important thing to ensure this stability can be preserved?
We are feeling the impact of the economic crisis, but our clients and our bank are well prepared. We are liquid and able to support our clients. We proactively offer solutions for businesses and private clients. As a bank, we are like a navigation system in the world of finance and we should see the road ahead on our dashboard, even after the next turn. We are prepared for different scenarios and can therefore support our clients continuously. Our slogan is “For whatever may come” and, as a banking group born and rooted in this region, we will do our best to utilise our shared expertise, knowledge and strength to navigate these challenging times!