Capital Markets and Portfolio Investment

Croatia’s securities and financial markets are open equally to domestic and foreign investment. Foreign residents may open non-resident accounts and may do business both domestically and abroad.  Specifically, Article 24 of the Foreign Currency Act states that non-residents may subscribe, pay in, purchase, or sell securities in Croatia in accordance with regulations governing securities transactions.  Non-residents and residents are afforded the same treatment in spending and borrowing.  These and other non-resident financial activities regarding securities are covered by the Foreign Currency Act, available on the central bank website ( https://www.hnb.hr/en/ ).

Securities are traded on the Zagreb Stock Exchange (ZSE), established in 1991.  Regulations that govern activity and participation in the ZSE can be found (in English) at:  https://zse.hr/en/legal-regulations/234 .  There are three tiers of securities traded on the ZSE.  The Capital Markets Act regulates all aspects of securities and investment services and defines the responsibilities of the Croatian Financial Services Supervisory Agency (HANFA). The Capital Market Act was amended in 2019 and went into force on February 22, 2020.  The amendments include the increase from USD 5.4 million to USD 8.7 million for mandatory publication of share prospectus, changes to administrative obligations, and a decrease in fees for issuing securities.  These amendments also give HANFA more authority over corporate management of those companies listed on the capital market.  All legislation associated with the Capital Market act can be found (in English) at:  http://www.hanfa.hr/regulations/capital-market/ .

There is sufficient liquidity in the markets to enter and exit sizeable positions.  There are no policies that hinder the free flow of financial resources.  There are no restrictions on international payments or transfers.  As such, Croatia is in accordance with IMF Article VIII.  The private sector, both domestic and foreign owned, enjoys open access to credit and a variety of credit instruments on the local market, on market terms.

Money and Banking System

The banking sector is mostly privatized and is highly developed, competitive, and increasingly offering diverse products to businesses (foreign and domestic) and consumers.  French, German, Italian, and Austrian companies own over 90 percent of Croatia’s banks. In 2016, Addiko Bank became the first U.S. bank registered in Croatia by taking over all of Hypo Bank’s holdings in Croatia.  The banking sector suffered no long-term consequences during the 2008 global banking crisis. According to conclusions from an IMF Virtual Visit with Croatia in November 2020, the banking sector is generally considered to be one of the strongest sectors of the Croatian economy, “comparable to other Central and Eastern European Countries.”   As of September 2020, there were 20 commercial banks and three savings banks, with assets totaling USD 68.24 billion.

The largest bank in Croatia is Italian-owned Zagrebacka Banka, with assets of USD 18.4 billion and a market share of 27.01 percent. The second largest bank is Italian-owned Privredna Banka Zagreb, with assets totaling USD 14.02 billion and 20.54 percent market share.  The third largest is Austrian Erste Bank, with assets totaling USD 10.9 billion and a 15.96 percent market share.  According to a December 2020 European Commission report, the non-performing loans (NPL) ratio for Croatia was 5.5 percent in the second quarter of 2020, putting Croatia among the top ten of EU countries for NPL in 2020. The country has a central bank system and all information regarding the Croatian National Bank can be found at  https://www.hnb.hr/en/ . Non-residents are able to open bank accounts without restrictions or delays.  The Croatian government has not introduced or announced any current intention to introduce block chain technologies in banking transactions.

Foreign Exchange and Remittances

Foreign Exchange

The Croatian Constitution guarantees the free transfer, conversion, and repatriation of profits and invested capital for foreign investments. Article VI of the U.S.-Croatia Bilateral Investment Treaty (BIT) additionally establishes protection for American investors from government exchange controls. The BIT obliges both countries to permit all transfers relating to a covered investment to be made freely and without delay into and out of each other’s territory.  Transfers of currency are additionally protected by Article VII of the International Monetary Fund (IMF) Articles of Agreement ( http://www.imf.org/External/Pubs/FT/AA/index.htm#art7  ).

The Croatian Foreign Exchange Act permits foreigners to maintain foreign currency accounts and to make external payments.  The Foreign Exchange Act also defines foreign direct investment (FDI) in a manner that includes use of retained earnings for new investments/acquisitions, but excludes financial investments made by institutional investors such as insurance, pension and investment funds.  The law also allows Croatian entities and individuals to invest abroad.  Funds associated with any form of investment can be freely converted into any world currency.

The exchange rate is determined by the Croatian National Bank through “managed floating.”  The National Bank intervenes in the foreign exchange market to ensure the Euro-Croatian kuna rate remains stable as an explicit and longstanding policy.  On July 10, 2020 the European Central Bank and European Commission announced that Croatia had fulfilled its commitments and the Croatian kuna (HRK) was admitted into the Banking Union and European Exchange Rate Mechanism (ERM II), with the exchange rate between the kuna and the euro (EUR) pegged at EUR 1 to 7.53450 HRK. Any risk of currency devaluation or significant depreciation is generally low.

Remittance Policies

No limitations exist, either temporal or by volume, on remittances.  The U.S. Embassy in Zagreb has not received any complaints from American companies regarding transfers and remittances.

Sovereign Wealth Funds

Croatia does not own any sovereign wealth funds.

Capital Markets and Portfolio Investment

The banking sector in Montenegro is fully privatized with 12 privately owned banks operating in the country. The banking sector operates under market terms.  Foreign investors are able to get credit on the local market, and they have access to a variety of credit instruments since the majority of the banks in Montenegro belong to international banking chains.

The largest foreign investor-banks are OTP (Hungary) operating as CKB in Montenegro, Erste Bank (Austria) and NLB (Slovenia). The remaining, smaller foreign banks do not belong to large international groups.  A new set of banking laws have been adopted and some of the existing laws have been amended to improve regulation of the banking sector, provide a higher level of depositor safety, and increase trust in the banking sector itself.  The Law on the Protection of Deposits has been adopted to bring local legislation on protecting deposits up to European standards.  In accordance with the law, a fund for protecting deposits has been established and deposits are guaranteed up to the amount of EUR 50,000 (approximately USD 55,556).

Until 2010, Montenegro had two stock exchanges.  After a successful merger (in 2010), only one stock exchange operates on the capital market under the name of Montenegro Stock Exchange (MSE).  In December 2013, the Istanbul Stock Exchange purchased 24.38 percent of the MSE (www.montenegroberza.com).  Three types of securities are traded: shares of companies, shares of investment funds, and bonds (old currency savings bonds, pension fund bonds, and bonds from restitution.)  The MSE is organized on the principle of member firms, which trade in their own names and for their own account (dealers) in the name and for the account of their clients (brokers).  Members of the MSE can be a legal entity registered as a broker under the Law on Securities provided they meet conditions laid down by the Statute of the Stock Exchange.  In addition, members may include banks and insurance companies, once approved by the Commission for Securities to perform stock exchange trade.  MSE currently has 11 stock brokers.

Money and Banking System

According to Central Bank of Montenegro, the banking sector remained solvent and liquid, with a share of 5.5 percent of non-performing loans.  In 2020, lending activity grew by 3.2 percent in relation to the end of 2019 while the interest rate dropped to 5.84 percent as a result of increased competition.

Montenegro is one of a few countries that does not belong to the Euro zone but uses the Euro as its official currency (without any formal agreement).  Since its authority is limited in monetary policies, the Central Bank, in its role as the state’s fiscal agent, has focused on control of the banking system and maintenance of the payment system. The Central Bank also regulates the process for establishing a bank.  A bank can be founded as a joint-stock company and acquire the status of a legal entity by registering in the court register.  An application for registration in the court register must be submitted 60 days from when the bank is first licensed.

Foreign Exchange and Remittances

Foreign Exchange Policies

The Foreign Investment Law guarantees the right to transfer and repatriate profits in Montenegro.  Montenegro uses the Euro as its domestic currency. There are no other limitations placed on the transfer of foreign currency.

Remittance Policies

There are no difficulties in the free transfer of funds exercised on the basis of profit, repayment of resources, or residual assets. The Central Bank of Montenegro publishes statistics on remittances as a proportion of GDP, with the latest data available indicating that in 2018 remittances accounted for approximately 10 percent of GDP.

Sovereign Wealth Funds

There are no sovereign wealth funds in Montenegro.